CALHOUN TOO CHARITABLE IN LOSS TO WIRT

(02/12/2009)
By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net

Calhoun was just too darn charitable Wednesday night.

First they gave the Tigers the ball 11 times in the first period. Then they gave the Tigers 20 free throws in the final period.

The result was a slow start and an impossible catch-up attempt as Wirt posted a 64-50 victory over the visiting Red Devils Friday night.

Calhoun led 5-3 then it started turning the ball over. When the 11-turnover run was over Wirt was on top 18-9 at the end of the first period. The Tigers had six three-point goals in the first half and were on top 32-20 at intermission.

Calhoun tried to battle back in the second half but Wirt County slowed the ball down and took free throws ... a lot of free throws. Overall Wirt scored 24 of its second half points on free throws, including 17 of 20 in the fourth quarter. The Tigers' deadly shooting from the charity stripe pretty well killed any hopes Calhoun had at rallying.

Wes Cox was the instigator of almost all of Calhoun's problems as he had four first half three-point shots to go along with his 10 fourth quarter free throws en route to a team and game high 24 points, the same as Calhoun's Zach Moore.

Cox had assistance from James Reeves with 16 and Levi Kerby with 11, including seven of eight free throws. Overall, Wirt, 7-11. hit 28 of 36 free throw attempts. It was the most free throws against the Red Devils since Clay hit 28 of 37 earlier in the season.

Calhoun, now 4-13, had 24 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for the Red Devils to lead in every category. Justin Gerwig chipped in with 13 points and nine rebounds while Kyle Keesler added six, Anthony Richards three and Chucky Kendall and Tyler Bennett two each. Harold McCumbers, Daniel Sims and Cai Clothier all played but did not score.

Wirt also won the junior varsity game by a 55-12 margin as Calhoun went scoreless in the second half.

Josh Bell led Wirt with 18 while Ryan Galusha added 10 for the 12-3 Tigers.

For Calhoun, now 0-15, Richards and Brandon Sampson led the way with four each. Bennett added two while Joe Overbaugh and Stewart Fitzwater had one each. Greg Myers, CJ Myers, Noah Sweeney, Sims and Quinten Murphy all played but did not score.

Calhoun tries to get back on the winning track Friday night when it travels to South Harrison for a doubleheader.