On stage at Hammond, Heathwood Hall’s Joseph English tries to make a free throw as Hammond fans do their best to distract him. The Heathwood Hall Highlanders lost the SCISA 3A state football championship 50–20 to their arch rivals, the Hammond Skyhawks. Some Hammond fans were more than happy to remind them of that at Tuesday night’s basketball game. But that’s about all the Hammond fans had to cheer about as Mac Whalen (Heathwood’s quarterback and point guard) and the Highlanders took out some frustrations beating the Skyhawks 54–40.

Corey Littlejohn scored a game–high 21 points to lead Heathwood. His seven first quarter points helped the Highlanders jump out to an early 10–2 lead. The Skyhawks fought back to close the gap to 12–11. Mathew McClam scored five quick points in the run, but Littlejohn answered with a conventional three–point play as he was fouled driving for a lay up. After Belton Amaker’s bucket for Heathwood, the Highlander led 19–15 at the end of the first quarter.

Heathwood Hall’s Corey Littlejohn tries to steal the ball from Hammond’s Aaron Walters. Littlejohn exploded for 11 points in the second quarter and survived a scare as he was fouled hard going up for a dunk. Brandon Picow provided a spark for the Skyhawks coming off the bench to drain a couple of three– pointers, but the Highlanders closed the quarter with six straight points to build a 37–25 lead going into halftime.

The Hammond offense stayed in the locker room for the third quarter and did not manage a point. Meanwhile, Morgan Whalen and Littlejohn drained three–pointers, while Mac Whalen added a basket. Joseph English converted on a lay up as he was fouled and sank the subsequent free throw.

The Highlanders lead was 48–25 going into the fourth and final quarter. It grew to 50–25 after English made a couple of free throws. To add insult to injury, Mac Whalen and Amaker made two huge rejections of a couple of Hammond lay up attempts.

Heathwood Hall’s Mac Whalen looks to dribble by Hammond’s Brandon Picow. The Skyhawks closed the game with a 15–4 run off the strength of Aaron Walters’ 11 fourth quarter points. He led Hammond with a total of 15 points. Mathew McClam added seven. Picow had six points, and Andrew McClam got five. Jake Ayers added three points, and Hunter George and Max Hamilton each got two for the Skyhawks.

English finished with 13 points for Heathwood Hall. Mac Whalen added 11, and brother Morgan got five points. Taylor Zurcher and Amaker each finished with two points for the Highlanders.

Hammond will host Ben Lippen Friday, while the Highlanders will travel to St. Joseph’s.