By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
And so the Calhoun High School senior basketball class joins a long list of tits brethren as being a member of a team that has never beaten Gilmer County in basketball.
At least not in the regular season.
That much was assured Tuesday night when the Titans traveled to Mount Zion and put a 62-39 whipping on the Red Devils, running a string of losses out even further since the last time Calhoun beat Gilmer was during the 2004-05 season.
To put this in perspective is to realize that Red Devil seniors Luke Moore, Ricky Hall, Trent Phillips and Derek Dawson were in the fifth grade the last time Calhoun beat Gilmer, too young even for middle school basketball.
The Titans, 7-6, took the drama out of things early when they rolled out to a 12-0 first quarter lead. Although the Red Devils scored in the second quarter Lucas Wilson hit the first points for Calhoun about a minute in it wasn't going to be enough as Gilmer enjoyed a 16-11 edge and a 28-11 halftime lead.
Any hope of a miracle comeback was smashed in the third quarter when a 20-8 Gilmer advantage made it 48-19 going into the home stretch.
Calhoun Coach Danny Bunch went with a smaller and younger lineup in the fourth period and it proved to be the right combination as the Red Devils outscored Gilmer 20-14 to make the final tally seem a little less lopsided.
Sam Brady came off the bench to lead Calhoun, 1-11, with nine points. He was backed by Phillips and Lucas Wilson with eight apiece. Ethyn Miller had five all in the fourth quarter while Ryan Slider added four, Moore three and Mason Sheldon two. Hall, Dawson and Tyler Gerwig all played but did not score.
Austin Cunningham and Austin Ratliff led Gilmer with 15 each while Anthony Aviles added 14. Mitchell Hickman had nine, Nathan Allison four, Zack Chapman three and Reed Ratliff two. Colby Cunningham, Hunter Smith and Cory Grogg all played but did not score.
Gilmer also won the junior varsity game, beating the Red Devils 62-22 as Grogg scored 27 out outscore Calhoun all by himself.
For Calhoun Nick "Titan Slayer" Watkins was the leader with seven points.
In the first game of the season between these two teams Watkins scored all eight points in the Titans 52-8 win at Glenville.
Brady backed Watkins with six while Dakota Jarvis added four, Miller three and Luke Sheldon two. Riley Cain, David Workman and MyKia Holbert all played but did not score.
Calhoun played the game without guard William Baker who suffered a knee injury in practice last week and may be out for the remainder of the season.
Chapman backed Grogg's scoring binge with 12 points while Smith added nine, Ethan Burkhammer eight, Anthony Dead four and Ty Harkleroad two.
Calhoun will try to get back on the winning path Thursday night when it plays host to Wirt County while Gilmer will travel to Williamstown Friday.
| 
