SHADYSIDE – It was opening night for the Shadyside boys’ basketball team Tuesday. It also proved to be a very special night for Tigers’ all-stater Kelly Hendershot.

The talented 6-2 senior tossed in a game-high 22 points to lead the Tigers to a lopsided 78-50 win over Steubenville Catholic Central. Hendershot entered the game 12 points shy of a 1,000. He reached the coveted mark at the five-minute mark of the second quarter on a driving layup.

“I am proud of the accomplishment. But it is one that I couldn’t have achieved without my teammates and coaches,” Hendershot said. “It was nice to be able to do it at home, but most importantly is we won the game.”

Hendershot had plenty of support. Sophomore dandy Korey Beckett poured in 21 points, including his team’s first nine of the contest. He also displayed a nice floor game.

Sweet-shooting Tyler Parr exhibited a deadly long-range shooting touch, burying four treys en route to an 18-point night. Athletic and elongated sophomore Bryce Amos netted nine points and 10 rebounds.

The game tilted the Orange’s way early. Beckett’s strong start propelled the hosts to a 17-6 advantage after the first quarter.

Matters got no better for Catholic Central in the second frame. The Tigers used 12 points from Hendershot and eight from Parr to stretch their advantage to 46-13 at halftime.

Parr and Hendershot continued to fuel the Tigers’ scoring onslaught in the third quarter. Parr netted 10 points in the frame while Hendershot delivered seven counters as the Orange built a 69-26 upperhand entering the final eight minutes.

“I am real happy for Kelly. It is a great achievement. He has meant a lot to this program and he is a great young man,” head coach Ed Andes said. “It was a nice way for us to begin the season.

“I was happy with our intensity and how we played defensively. We played extremely hard,” the school’s winningest coach added. “Offensively, we got contributions from a lot of people. It is a nice starting point.”

Shadyside returns to action Tuesday when it travels to Shenandoah. Andes will welcome back to action one of his key cogs that night. Talented sophomore guard Mason Vannest, sidelined with football injury, is slated to suit up that night, bringing more intensity and toughness to the Tiger lineup.

The Crusaders fell to 0-2. Coach Don Ogden declined comment after the contest.

Jack Rook paced the Central attack with 17 points, including five treys. Luca Connor was his top support with 15 counters.

Shadyside committed 17 turnovers, seven coming in the final chapter. The Crusaders were guilty of 13 miscues.

Central won a wild reserve contest by a 46-44 margin in double overtime. Caiden McCutcheon led the young Tigers with 17 points while Jacob James and Elijah Brock added 14 and 11 counters, respectively.