By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Once again a poor third quarter by Calhoun proved to be the difference as Wirt County took a 60-32 victory over the home standing Red Devils Friday night.
The Tigers took what was a close game - they led 24-18 at the half - and broke it open when they outscored Calhoun by a 24-7 margin in the third period.
The smaller and younger Red Devils stayed with the 11-7 Tigers almost until the end of the half and had the game tied at 18-18 before six straight Tiger points gave them a lead they would not give up.
The difference in the second half was twofold.
First Wirt was able to go inside to its big men - Michael David and Zach Moore - with regularity.
Then the Red Devils were once again hampered by foul problems as Andrew Norman, Harold McCumbers and Tyler Bennett all picked up their fourth foul to go with the three called against Justin Gerwig. This hampered the Red Devils both on offense and defense where they had to give up their reckless abandon style for a more conservative style.
When this happened Davis scored 12 of his game high 17 while Moore picked up eight of his 11. Both had been held in relative check in the first half and Wirt's offense failed to click.
Both were especially effective in the third quarter when Davis had 10 and Moore added six.
Other than those two Calhoun played a good game on defense, especially the freshman Bennett who held Wirt's high-scoring Jesse Ward to a single basket. Ward's bucket came with 2:45 remaining in the contest. He entered the game averaging 16.7 for seventh place in the area in scoring.
Senior Andrew Norman with 14 led Calhoun. He was the only player to hit in double figures for the 0-19 Red Devils.
Gerwig added eight for Calhoun while Anthony Richards had four and Chuck Kendall and McCumbers three apiece. Greg Myers, Cai Clothier, Daniel Sims and Bennett all played but did not score.
Wirt also won the junior varsity game by a 55-23 count.
Roy White led Wirt with 13 while Keith Hickman added 10.
Kendall's seven led Calhoun while Stuart Fitzwater added five. Bennett had three and Sims, Richards and Myers had two apiece. Clothier and Dennis Dye had one point apiece.
Joe Overbaugh, McCumbers, Quentin Murphy and Jordan Panarello all played but did not score.
Calhoun will return to action Thursday night in the LKC 13-place game at Tyler Consolidated.
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