By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Let's get the bad stuff out of the way up front.
Calhoun lost to Gilmer Tuesday night to run its record to 0-6. This also ran the Red Devils losing streak to 30 straight, just seven off the state record set a few years back by Paden City. The loss also meant the Red Devils will go the entire 2008 calendar year without a victory.
Tuesday night Gilmer jumped out big early and the outcome probably was not in doubt after the Titans took a 17-4 first quarter lead.
Behind big William Ratliff the Titans increased it to 43-20 at the half. Ratliff led the way for Gilmer, 6-0, with 22 points and 10 rebounds. He was the leading scorer in the game, but he was not alone in scoring double figures as Zach Burkhammer added 14 and Cody Grogg 10 off the bench. One of the lone bright spots for the Red Devils was the defensive play - mostly by Kyle Keesler - on James Farley, the Titans leading scorer.
For Calhoun Justin Gerwig led the way with 10 while the Titans held Zach Moore to eight, the first time this year he has failed to score in double figures.
They were backed by Keesler with five, Chucky Kendall and Daniel Slider with four and Harold McCumbers with three each.
Gilmer County also won the junior varsity game by a 77-30 count despite 12 points and eight rebounds from Brandon Sampson, who is averaging a double-double for the junior varsity. He was backed by Daniel Sims with seven, Greg Myers with five, Bennett with four and Stewart Fitzwater with two.
Gilmer County was led by Devon Dennis with 13 while Jalil Hosey added 12, Joel Roberts 11 and West Shackleford 10.
Over the weekend the Red Devils varsity competed in the Clarksburg Notre Dame Holiday Classic and came away with an 0-2 mark.
Friday night Calhoun lost an opening round game to host Notre Dame, 64-43, despite a 27-point, 17-rebound game by Moore. Moore was backed by Kendall with five, Keesler with two and Gerwig, Cai Clothier and Bennett with two and McCumbers with one.
Notre Dame was led by 6-8 Caesar Goodman with 20 points and nine rebounds.
In Saturday's consolation game the Red Devils fell before Webster County 73-45.
Moore led Calhoun with 20 points and 10 rebounds while Gerwig added 15 points. They were backed by Keesler with four and McCumbers, Slider and Clothier with two each.
Calhoun is now 0-6 ⦠riding a 30-game winless streak ⦠and was winless in 2008.
That's the bad news.
But there is good news too.
In the newspaper business when a story is finished the writer types 30 at the end of it. That means it is finished.
This was the 30th straight loss - No. 30. Let that be the end of it and let 2008 be the only winless year for the Red Devils by starting 2009 off right by posting a victory this coming Tuesday night when Wirt County comes to town.
-30-
| 
