By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
When you write about a varsity-junior varsity basketball doubleheader you write about what happened in the varsity game while the junior varsity game is something like: "Oh, by the way, in the junior varsity game â¦"
But Saturday afternoon the norm became the exception as Calhoun's junior varsity did something it had not done in six year: Win a game.
When the junior varsity took a 34-31 victory over South Harrison it got a monkey off its back that had grown to about the size of King Kong.
It wasn't an easy victory for the Red Devils but it was a beautiful victory.
Calhoun trailed by a point 31-30 with seven seconds remaining when Trent Phillips grabbed a rebound and was fouled. At the line he had the chance to not only tie the game but to put the (at the time) winless Red Devils ahead.
He hit the first to tie it and South Harrison called time to "ice him." It didn't work as he drained the second to give Calhoun a 32-31 lead.
The Hawks tried a long pass that Caleb Schoolcraft intercepted and was fouled. He hit both free throws - he was 6-of-7 for the day - to set the final margin.
"You should have seen them running around the floor shouting," Calhoun varsity coach Danny Bunch said.
Schoolcraft led Calhoun, 1-13, with eight points. Brandon Sampson had seven points, six rebounds and three assists before fouling out.
Luke Moore played "a great game" with four points, five rebounds and two assists, Phillips had five, including the go-ahead free throws, Dan Sims had three on a key shot in the fourth quarter, Quinton "Q Dawg" Murphy had three, Stuart Fitzwater had two and Derek Dawson and Ricky Hall both played but did not score.
In the varsity game Calhoun posted a 57-51 victory to run its winning streak to six and clinch at least third place in the LKC South Division standings.
But it wasn't easy as the Red Devils were flat in the first half and trailed 25-17 at intermission.
In the second half the Red Devils got the offense going and shifted to a sticky man-to-man defense to blow by the Hawks to raise its record to 9-8 marking the first time in six seasons they were better than .500 except for earlier this season when they were 1-0.
Justin Gerwig was deadly on the inside with a game high 24 points as the Red Devils had 16 assists during the game. Gerwig also had six rebounds and three assists.
Zach Moore and Chucky Kendall added 10 points each with Moore grabbing 14 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Kendall had three assists, two steals and a block.
Kyle Keesler added nine more - all on three-point shots - with three assists and two steals. Brandon Clark had three points and three assists while Tyler Bennett added a solo point.
Anthony Richards, Cai Clothier, Dan Sims all played but did not score.
For South Harrison, 6-10, Dustin Matheny had 23 while Jesse Swiger added 12.
Calhoun returns to action Monday night with a doubleheader.
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