By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
In basketball turnovers are bad, bad things. You get too many and you usually lose.
Friday night Calhoun had 35 turnovers against Braxton County and despite playing a pretty decent game in all other aspects the Red Devils were pounded 72-32.
Calhoun made a game out of things for a while but early in the third quarter foul trouble -- Andrew Norman picked up his fourth at the 7:05 mark -- combined with the turnovers as Braxton broke the game open.
The Eagles led by only 11 at the half -- 28-17 -- but the third saw the wheels come off the Red Devils' wagon as Braxton enjoyed an 18-8 advantage for a 21-point lead heading into the final period.
In that period more fouls, more turnovers and the Red Devils sending in a bunch of reserves allowed the Eagles, who did not send in a bunch of reserves, to enjoy a 26-7 advantage setting the final margin. In that period starting center Trey Chapman had seven while starting forward Kylie Warner added six.
Chapman, a 6-3 sophomore, led Braxton with 17 while Warner and Cord Metz added 12 each and Ryan Chapman and freshman Aaron Conant had 10 each as all five Eagle starters hit in double figures.
Calhoun only had three players score double figures led by Josh DeWeese's 19 points and 14 rebounds. Norman added eight before fouling out while Josh Cain chipped in with five.
Justin Gerwig, Chuck Kendall, Harold McCumbers, Greg Myers, Anthony Richards, Daniel Sims, Cai Clothier and Tyler Bennett all played but did not score, although Clothier and McCumbers each had five rebounds as Calhoun enjoyed a 33-30 rebounding edge.
The game was marked by one very unusual occurrence: There were no held balls meaning the possession arrow only came into play at the start of each quarter.
Braxton also won the junior varsity game by a 72-19 count.
Josh Dean led Braxton with 15 while Bobby Lane added 12.
Bennett led Calhoun with nine while Sims added three and Richards and CJ Myers two apiece. Dennis Dye, Quenton Morgan, Joe Overbaugh, Jordan Panarello, Stuart Fitzwater and Noah Sweeney, along with Richards, Greg Myers and Clothier all played but did not score.
Calhoun, now 0-2, is home to Doddridge County for a Tuesday doubleheader while Braxton, 2-0, travels to South Harrison.
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