LaFAYETTE — Payton Allen heaved up a shot spanning three-quarters court at the first quarter buzzer that just clanked off the back of the rim. That shot ended up being one of the last that he, and the rest of the Rebels missed against Eastwood on Thursday night.

Chambers Academy didn’t look back after carrying a 19-17 lead into the second quarter, and ran Eastwood out of the gym for a 95-61 victory. Allen finished with a school-record 46 points to go along with 15 rebounds and 10 assists. 

Eastwood’s Asa Button also had a memorable night in the loss, finishing with 50 points after making 12 3-pointers.

“We made a more conservative effort to guard [Button],” Chambers Academy boys head basketball coach Jason Allen said about the run the Rebels went on after the first quarter. “I thought we did a much more solid job, and then we got into a shooting contest in the second half, which didn’t really matter because we were so far ahead. Some of those points might have been a lack of not locking down because we were so far ahead.”

After moments of looking tired in the season-opener against Evangel, Allen had multiple stints of rest on the bench for the Rebels on Thursday.

“It’s nice,” Coach Allen said. “I’d like to be able to do it sometimes in the first half of each game, and a little bit in the third quarter. Tonight, we were able to do that. For all of guys, I think you play better when you get them out, get your breath, and just watch the game from the side instead of playing in it for just a little bit. That was good for him. Hopefully, we’ll be able to do that most nights.”

The Rebels played an exciting brand of basketball in the blowout win, turning rebounds into full-court passes, and a great amount of transistion buckets. 

“That’s fun for the kids,” Coach Allen said. “The kids like to play like that, and we’ve got some guys who are good athletes out there, some good offensive players. It’s a style that a lot of kids enjoy, I think. It’s a little different for, but it’s growing on me.”

Austin Sluter was the second-highest scorer for the Rebels with 18 points,  and senior Colton Hand had 15 points. 

Rodrigus Dark, Josh Holiday, Jake Waldrop, and Raphe Daniel also got on the board for the Rebels in the victory.

All players got an opportunity to touch the floor for some minutes in Thursday night’s win.

“Our No. 1 goal is to win the game, and to have everybody play, in that order,” Coach Allen said. “When both get accomplished, it’s a great night in my book as a coach. It’s morale better, practice better, everything.”

Chambers Academy returns to action tonight in Lanett to face rival-school Springwood.