Keeping Up With Jones Is Tough for Hart, 67-64

If stopping Anwawn Jones was Hart High’s plan Saturday night, the strategy worked--for the first half anyway.

Montclair Prep’s 6-4 senior forward, the Division V player of the year last season, was held to three shots in the first half of the nonconference game.

But Jones scored 27 points, blocked four shots and grabbed 13 rebounds to power the host Mounties to a 67-64 victory.

Montclair Prep (15-3) broke open a close game midway through the third quarter with several fast-break baskets, most of them started or finished by Jones.

“We were excited for this game,” Jones said. “It just took us a while to get going.”

The victory over the Indians, ranked seventh in The Times’ regional poll, figures to be the biggest of the regular season for Montclair Prep, which plays a freelance schedule.

The Mounties increased the lead to 60-48 midway through the fourth quarter but the Indians began to chip away.

Hart closed to within 63-60 with just over a minute to play and had a chance to tie, but Cory Johnson missed a three-point try.

Montclair Prep added breakaway baskets by Jeff Benson and Darin Brock to keep Hart from getting another chance to tie.

Johnson finished with 20 points and Kurt Lippincott added 12 for the Indians (11-5).

Akil Anderson and Scott Stark each had 12 for Montclair Prep.

The Mounties struggled in their half-court game, committing three consecutive turnovers in the opening minutes.

Hart, meanwhile, patiently worked the ball inside to score the first seven points.

Montclair Prep didn’t score until a layup by Jones nearly three minutes into the game. The Mounties used their speed and quickness to pull to within 13-12 at the end of the first quarter.

But the Mounties would go the next five minutes without a basket, and without a point for four minutes, by missing 10 consecutive shots.

The Indians didn’t fare much better and only were able to extend the lead to 18-13.

A pair of free throws by Anderson tied the score, 22-22, and a free throw by Stark gave the Mounties their first lead shortly before halftime.