The visiting Whitesville Trinity Raiders used a one-sided third period last Friday to break open a close game, then went on to hang on for a 51-47 victory over Grayson County on Homecoming Night in the Cougar Den.
With the win, the Raiders earned a sweep of the home-and-home series this season and will go into the postseason with that advantage over the Cougars.
The Raiders held a one-point advantage, 14-13 at the end of the first period, then scored the first two points of the second for a three-point lead at the 7:45 mark. The Cougars responded with a 10-0 run, six of which came from senior Bailey Logsdon, to take their largest lead of the night, seven points at 23-16.
In the past, the Raiders might have given up at that point, but this is not the Whitesville team of old. They answered by closing out the quarter with a 9-1 run to retake a one-point lead, 25-24 at the break.
The Raiders then put their stamp on the game, outscoring the Cougars 14-4 in the third quarter to take an 11-point lead, 39-28 heading into the fourth quarter.
Trinity’s Will Edge hit 1-of-2 free throws opening the final period to give the Raiders their largest lead of the game, 12 points at 40-28 with 6:59 left to play. Grayson County refused to quit though, putting together eight unanswered points to pull to within four, 40-36 with 3:02 left.
A Nolan Shartzer lay-in and two Caleb Ray free throws brought the Cougars to within two of the lead, 42-40 with 1:07 left to play and it was anyone’s ball game.
Still trailing by two following a Josh Embry bucket with 27.7 seconds left, the Cougars called a timeout, setting up probably the crucial play of the game. Out of the timeout, the Raiders tried a long pass on the inbounds play, but threw the ball well long.
Just before going out of bounds, the Raider player gained possession and called timeout as he was going out of bounds. Because he had gained possession before leaving the court, the timeout was granted by the officials, avoiding the turnover that would have given the Cougars the chance to tie or win the game with the final possession.
As it was, though, the Raiders held onto the ball and they were able to keep the Cougars at bay the rest of the way. Trenton Morris led the Raiders with 11 points.
Logsdon led all scorers with 21 points and he added five rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals. Shartzer joined Logsdon in double figures with 13 points and he added six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Logan Majors scored six points and led the Cougars on the glass with seven boards. Ray finished with four points, while Embry closed out the scoring with three.
By Don Brown, Local Sports
Reach Don at donbrown@k105.com
Nolan Shartzer put up a six-footer in the first half.
Shartzer finished with 13 points for the Cougars.
Between games on Homecoming Night the Queen and
Princess winners were announced. Mallory O’Neal
(seated left) was the 2018 Homecoming Princess.
Kennedy Childress (right) was the Queen.
