The PHHS Arabians defended their home court again tonight, winning by a 63-50 margin over the Trojans of Bishop Chatard. The Arabians got off to perhaps their best start of the short season, with Ashann Singh scoring bucket after bucket to build an early 13-7 lead. Singh would finish the first quarter with 10 of his team's 19 points, while the Trojans had only 9 at the end of the first. However, the Trojans would come storming back in the second quarter, with a quick 11-0 run that would give them a one-point lead before the quarter was half finished. Cooper Sims put an end to the run with 2 of the 30 points he would have by the end of the game, and Evan Mozingo added a three-pointer to grow the lead back to 4, but the Trojans continued to answer. The game stayed close through the end of the second quarter, and the teams went to halftime tied at 29. For as quick as the game began, the third quarter started off as a defensive battle, with Bishop Chatard scoring the first basket of the second half nearly two minutes in. Sims answered with an "and-one" for Pendleton Heights, but a three-pointer by the Trojans gave them a 34-32 lead which led to an Arabians timeout a couple minutes of game time later. Bishop Chatard added a couple of three-pointers while Singh added a basket for the Arabians, and at the end of three quarters it was the Trojans enjoying a 40-34 lead. After an off-ball foul by Chatard, Sims had a three on a baseline inbounds play to cut the deficit in half. The Trojans answered with an "and-one" of their own, but Mozingo followed with another three for the Arabians. Then a fastbreak three-pointer by Sims tied the game up at 43-43. Pendleton Heights would score again on the hoop and the harm to go up by three, and the home team never looked back. The Arabians continued to find each other on the fastbreak, and Joe Estes scored a couple of big putbacks in another great performance with 13 points and 7 rebounds, and Pendleton Heights ran away with the victory in the final minutes. In addition to leading all scorers with 30, Sims grabbed 6 rebounds and made 3 assists. Sims was 12/18 from the floor, including 3/5 on three-point shooting and 3/3 from the charity stripe. Estes contributed his 13 and 7 along with 2 assists, a big blocked shot and a steal. Singh finished with 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Mozingo scored 8 points with 5 assists and 2 rebounds. The next matchup for the Arabians will come at home on Monday, January 6, at 7:30 PM, as they face Lapel to begin the Madison County Tournament.