By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Calhoun lost a close, hard fought 58-46 decision to Braxton County Thursday night in a game that saw the Red Devils' philosophy altered by personal fouls.
Calhoun led most of the first half but with two-tenths of a second remaining before intermission and the Red Devils on top by one the game's seminal moment happened when four players collided just outside the three-point line near the Braxton basket.
On that play Calhoun point guard Kyle Keesler was whistled for a foul. It was his third. It was a play that could have been called either way or not at all. But as it was that play started a far-ranging domino effect that ended up costing the Devils.
Calhoun was clinging to a one-point but when Keesler was whistled it sent Braxton sophomore guard Aaron Conant to the line for three foul shots, since the collision occurred behind the three-point line.
Conant nailed all three giving the Eagles a slim 25-23 halftime lead.
The margin of the lead, or that Braxton took the lead, was a ripple in the tidal wave of events that followed.
Calhoun played a man-to-man defense and junior forward Zach Moore had pretty well nullified Braxton's superb forward Trey Chapman, who was on the bench with two fouls himself. But that was about to change.
Less than a minute into the second half - 7:09 remained in the third quarter - Keesler was again whistled for a foul. This was his fourth and forced Calhoun coach Danny Bunch to bring him to the bench and move Moore from an inside rebounding position to the point guard spot. When that happened it was still a very close game with the Eagles up by a pair.
When Moore moved to the point (and off Chapman on defense) the Eagles started pouring it in to the big guy and he responded scoring nine of his game high 23 points in the third quarter leading Braxton to a 20-9 advantage in the period and a 45-32 edge heading into the final eight minutes.
That was the break the Eagles needed to get some breathing room and they were able to stave off a couple of Calhoun challenges during which the Red Devils cut the margin to less than 10 points. But they were never able to make up the ground they lost in the third period.
Calhoun stayed close but the Eagles were able to make their foul shots down the stretch for the victory.
Moore led the Red Devils with 20 points and 15 rebounds while Justin Gerwig added 13 points and six rebounds. Following that, however, the Red Devils' offense was a bit spotty as Danny Slider had four, Chuck Kendall three, Cai Clothier three (and six rebounds), Harold McCumbers two and Keesler one. Greg Myers and Tyler Bennett both played but did not score.
Kyle Warner was the only other Eagle to hit double figures and he had 15 points.
The Red Devils tied the bigger Eagles on the boards with 36 each and in turnovers with 13 each.
Once again the Red Devils did not have a strong shooting game hitting on 17 of 58 shots from the field for 29.3 per cent. Braxton was 24 of 58. The Red Devils were eight of 14 from the free throw line while Braxton hit 10 of its 21 attempts.
Braxton also won the junior varsity game 70-33.
Calhoun had three guys in double figures as Brandon Sampson led the way with 11 while Tyler Bennett and Caleb Schoolcraft added 10 apiece. Game honors went to Braxton's Jordan Coen with 16 while Jordan Lacy added 12 and Yanick Yewawa 10.
Sampson and Joe "Double Oh" Overbaugh led the way on the boards with eight each although Braxton enjoyed a 37-20 rebounding edge.
Calhoun, now 0-2, opens its home season Tuesday night with a double header against Parkersburg Catholic. The junior varsity game is scheduled to get under way at 5:45 p.m.
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