By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Everything that went before was merely prelude. All the blood, sweat and tears. All the big time game feeling with the high school band performing and a near capacity crowd defying the white outside for the "White Out" inside. Everything ...
But everything that went before was just prelude to the last 6.4 seconds of Friday night's basketball game.
With 6.4 remaining and Gilmer on top 46-44 the Titans shot and missed and Ryan Slider grabbed the ball for Calhoun and was fouled.
He cheered, jumped in the air and ran down the court. A whistle blew and a technical foul was called on Slider for "taunting."
One of the official Calhoun party jumped off the bench and defending the 6-3 senior saying he was not taunting anyone. Another whistle blew and another technical foul was called.
Amid the maelstrom going on on the court a metal coffee mug flew landing near midcourt and a fan was removed from the arena.
After the floor was dried Slider, who had fouled on when the technical was called on him, went to the line and hit both free throws to tie the game at 46-all.
But Gilmer had four free throws. It hit two of them but it got the ball out going against a tight, tight Calhoun defense.
After a couple of time outs and one foul which stopped the clock since Calhoun did not have the prerequisite seven fouls for warrant a free throw the ball was tossed in again and a foul was called on Calhoun. It was ruled an intentional foul which, by rule, gave the ball back to Gilmer after the free throws.
Calhoun's bench rationalized that it would make no sense for the team to go for an intentional foul since they were trying to get the ball back ⦠a contentious moment but nothing more.
When action started again Calhoun again was whistled for an intentional foul with 2.2 remaining. This one, the Calhoun bench announced WAS intentional and another whistle blew. Another technical foul on the Red Devils.
After the free throws Gilmer took the ball out one last time and the time ran off the clock.
The last 6.4 seconds of the game featured three technical fouls and two intentional fouls on Calhoun rendering everything that went before as mere prelude.
It was a bizarre and sad ending to what was an excellent game up to that point.
Colby Cunningham led the 8-1 Titans with 21 points. He was backed by his older brother Austin with 10. They were the only two to hit in double figures.
Calhoun was led by junior guard Tyler Sims with 16 while sophomore point guard Ethyn Miller chipped in with 15.
They were the only two Red Devils to hit in double figures as usual high scorers Sam Brady, Tyler Gerwig, Mason Sheldon and Slider spent a good deal of time on the bench with early foul trouble.
As a matter of fact Brady and Sheldon were blanked while Slider only picked up nine for the 3-6 Red Devils. Gerwig had four while Luke Sheldon had two. Lucas Wilson and Cody Starcher both played several minutes but did not score.
For Gilmer the Cunningham brothers were backed by Zach Chapman with seven, Nathan Allison with six and Austin Ratliff and Cory Grogg chipped in with four each. Noah Aviles also played but did not score.
Gilmer, 6-2, also won the junior varsity game by a 40-26 game behind the 13-point effort of Lucas Sirbaugh. Trey Shuff chipped in with seven, Anthony Dean had six, Carter Springer and Aviles four apiece, Cole Haley three, Ethan Burkhammer two and Royce Roberts one.
For Calhoun, 2-7, Nick Watkins and Austin Gribble led the way with seven apiece while Zack Yanero and Dylan Heiney had four apiece, Luke Sheldon three and Dakota Jarvis one. Austin Hicks, Christopher Kirkland, Chris Thornton, Jerry Jones and Riley Cain all played but did not score.
Gilmer County will not have long to enjoy its victory as it travels to Charleston Catholic today for a doubleheader. Calhoun will try to get back on the winning side of the ledger Tuesday night when Hannan invades for a doubleheader with the junior varsity game scheduled to start at 5:45.
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