Burlington Central gets back to .500
Anyone on the Burlington Central boys basketball team has the green light to put up a 3-point shot when its available.
There were plenty of opportunities Friday night and there were plenty of them going in.
Seven different Rockets nailed 3-pointers as Central hit 12 from behind the arc in an 84-71 Big Northern East Division victory over Harvard in Burlington.
"We have that ability," Central coach Brett Porto said. "For whatever reason we don't see it too much when we go on the road, but at home we do play pretty well."
Shane Larkin and Zach Romando each hit three 3-pointers to lead the Rockets, who went 12-for-26 behind the arc. Sam Klein added a pair. Matt McCurdy, Ray Hunnicutt, Steve Hall and Jared Moxness each hit one.
The 3-pointer isn't usually part of Larkin's offensive repertoire. The senior usually does most of his scoring in the post or with his midrange jumper. But with everyone else shooting so well he felt like getting in on the act.
"I don't usually, but everyone on the team shoots it all the time," said Larkin, who finished with a team-high 19 points. "When we're open, we're taught to shoot them. They were going in."
Harvard (8-16, 3-6), which had its three-game win streak snapped, tried to stay in the game also by shooting from behind the arc. The Hornets hit 11 3-pointers, including five from Timmy Linhart.
The Hornets' last lead was at 9-8 with 5:20 left in the first quarter. Central (11-11, 6-2) led by 10, 41-31, at halftime after a Klein offensive rebound and basket with 2 seconds left in the half. Harvard wouldn't get any closer than five in the second half.
Chase Blazier scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Hornets. Colin Carpenter added 13, including three 3-pointers. Collin Nolen finished with 12.
Klein finished with 16 points and seven rebounds. Hunnicutt added 14 points and eight rebounds. McCurdy had 10 points. Romando and Hall each had 9.
"A lot of our offense is based on penetrating and kicking it out," Klein said. "That's what we're really good at. Like tonight, it showed."