By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Zach Moore and Kyle Keesler combined for 51 points, including all eight in overtime, to lead Calhoun to a 60-58 victory over visiting South Harrison Tuesday night.
Moore led the way for the Red Devils with 31 points while adding 15 rebounds, two steals, two blocked shots and two assists.
Keesler had 20 points for the Red Devils in what may be his career high as he was red hot from outside, hitting on four of five three-point attempts.
Moore set the tone for the Red Devils early in the game by scoring the first eight points. His offensive outburst forced South Harrison to switch to special defenses to stop him.
With the Hawks paying attention to Moore, Keesler stepped up in a big way, especially in the second half.
Calhoun took a 15-11 first quarter lead and threatened to run away with things before going into a lull just before intermission which allowed the Hawks to cut the halftime margin to three, 24-21.
Calhoun, behind the sizzling shooting of Keesler, took one of its biggest leads of the night in the third quarter. Keelser had 10 points including a pair of three-point baskets. The Red Devils were on top 39-32 heading into the final period.
But that's when the Hawks, 2-8, started pecking away at the lead with Dakota Kirby's dramatic three-point goal at the final buzzer tying things at 52-52 setting up overtime.
In the overtime period the Hawks scored first on a basket by Jesse Swiger to take their only lead of the game.
That was quickly erased as Keesler canned a three-point shot and Moore added a put-back basket to make it 57-54 and South Harrison was not able to recover a second time.
For South Harrison Swiger led the way with 19 while Dustin Matheny had 16.
Calhoun, 2-4, also got seven points from Chuckie Kendall and two from Justin Gerwig. Bronson Clark, Anthony Richards and Randy Fluharty all added some valuable defensive play despite not scoring.
South Harrison won the junior varsity game by a 45-38 count in overtime.
Calhoun led most of the way but finally succumbed to the Hawks barrage from the free throw line where they shot 30 times.
The loss dropped the Red Devils to 0-4 on the season and continued a six-year winless streak.
Brandon Sampson led Calhoun with 15 before fouling out while Caleb Schoolcraft added 11. Daniel Sims and Ricky Hall had five each and Tyler Bennett and Trent Phillips had one each.
Luke Sampson, Stuart Fitzwater, Quentin Murphy and Caleb Richards all played but did not score.
Calhoun returns to action tonight (Wednesday) as it entertains Clay County. The junior varsity game is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. with the varsity game to follow.
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