BOYS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Hernandez Steps Up, Shoots Down Hart

The Saugus High basketball team reached even deeper into its roster Friday night at Hart in a nonleague game, and the result was a 72-62 win over the cross-town rival Indians.

With proven scorers Josh Hinrichs and Steve Tampus hounded by Hart defenders, senior forward Chris Hernandez stepped up to score a career-high 26 points and pace the Centurions in a come-from-behind effort in a boisterous Hart gym.

“I told him he had to step up to the challenge,” Saugus Coach John Clark said. “And he carried us. He really stepped up.”

It didn’t appear that Saugus (7-2) was even close to a victory late in the third quarter when Hart senior Ali Peek went inside for a basket that gave Hart a 54-47 lead. But that only served as a wake-up call for the Centurions, who installed a zone press that began to force turnovers. Hernandez then scored six consecutive points to give Saugus a 58-56 lead.

From there, Hinrichs began to break free. Drawing fouls nearly every time he touched the ball in the fourth quarter, Hinrichs made nine consecutive free throws to finish with 20 points and finish off the Indians (4-6). Saugus outscored Hart, 23-8, in the fourth quarter.

Peek finished with 22 points to lead Hart.