| By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Most coaches say they don't like moral victories and Calhoun High School
girls coach Chip Westfall may be one of them.
But Tuesday night the Red Devils got one of those moral victories by doing
everything to highly regarded Wirt County except beating it.
No, the Red Devils lost a 48-47 heartbreaker when Wirt made a couple of free
throws and the Red Devils missed one at the buzzer.
Wirt came into the game on paper at least a heavy favorite. The Tigers had a
9-5 record including a season-opening victory over Class AAA Parkersburg
High School.
Calhoun brought a 1-11 record into the fray.
But when the game started the records went out the window and the teams
battled back-and-forth on even terms with the lead being swapped several
times and neither team being able to get more than a five or six point lead.
Calhoun was finally able to move ahead of the Tigers with about :19
remaining in the contest on Casey Westfall's free throw.
But Wirt's Shannell Watson was fouled with about five seconds remaining She
shoots free throws one-handed in a shot put style. But both went in and the
Tigers regained the lead with what turned out to be the final score.
Calhoun had its chance at victory however as it broke the Wirt press and got
off a 20-footer at the buzzer. The shot hit the rim and caromed away giving
the Tigers their 10th win of the season.
Dani Church led the Red Devils with 16 points while freshman Tessa Batten
added 13.
Westfall had nine while Courtney McKown added five and Kara Sears
four.
Carlee Cox, who scored his 1000th career point in the fourth quarter, led
Wirt with a game high 20.
Jamie Lemon had 11 while Watson added 10.
Calhoun won the junior varsity game 21-19 on a basket by Melissa Jarvis with
about five seconds remaining.
Calhoun returns to action Thursday night in the St. Marys Tournament.
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