MARYSVILLE — Halftime makes all the difference.

Speed trumped size in the first half of the Dec. 12 duel between the boys of Grace Academy and Highland Christian. A visibly taller Highland Christian team took up space under the basket, but Grace seniors Jay Lee and Brian Young forced them to spread out, shooting from around three-point territory with a conversion each from outside the arc. Lee in particular was able to drive around the outside and under the basket and the two guards helped Grace run out to a 13-8 lead by the end of the first quarter.

Lee and Young combined for 17 points, but most of them came from the first half.

Highland Christian, meanwhile, progressively turned it on throughout the game, adding more points per quarter throughout the game. Senior Caleb Brown was the first to get going on offense, keeping the Knights in the game through much of the first half and totaling a game-high 12 points.

Highland’s big man Jeff Miles came off the bench for the Knights, contributing on both sides of the ball. Probably six inches taller than anyone Grace was able to put on the court, Miles had six boards and three blocks for the Knights, adding seven points on the other side of the court. Meanwhile, the Knights held Grace to seven points in the second half, turning an early advantage into a 42-28 league loss.

Grace Academy’s Lee was the only other player to score in double figures, with teammate Garrett Weinberg and Knights forward Vince Kurtzenaker each adding nine for their team.

The win gives Highland Christian a 2-1 record early in league play, with their loss at the hands of undefeated Lummi.