By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
When you shoot only 43 per cent of your free throws it usually means trouble. Unless you shoot a lot of free throws ⦠like 23 ⦠in the fourth quarter ⦠like home standing St. Marys did Monday night in a 44-47 victory over Calhoun.
The Blue Devils, who ironically wear no blue opting instead for purple and gold, ended Calhoun's six-game winning streak with the come-from-behind victory.
Calhoun was ahead by a pair heading into the final period, 33-31, in the nip-and-tuck game. The Red Devils maintained that lead for the first couple of minutes of the final stanza only to have a couple of mental errors turn into five straight points for St. Marys and a two-point lead. The Blue Devils maintained that lead until about the four minute mark of the period as the teams traded scores. But that's when St. Marys decided to spread the floor and run time off the clock.
And that's about the time the fouls started allowing St. Marys to camp out at the free throw line. Calhoun was whistled for 18 of its 21 fouls in the second half with 13 coming in the fourth quarter.
Overall, St. Marys made 24 fourth quarter points including 10 from the free throw line. The 10 were more than enough to turn a one or two-point game into an eight point game at the final buzzer.
Reed Kalinofski was the main recipient of the fourth quarter parade to the free throw line and ended up as St. Marys' leading scorer with 15 while Brett Wright ended up with 10 for the 12-6 Blue Devils.
Calhoun was led by Zach Moore with 22 points and 15 rebounds despite the Blue Devils designing special defenses to stop the 6-3 senior. Moore also had three assists and two steals.
Justin Gerwig was next with 15 points and eight rebounds while Kyle Keesler had seven points and two assists and Chucky Kendall had a basket and four assists before fouling out.
Bronson Clark, Anthony Richards, Cai Clothier, Dan Sims, Tyler Bennett, Caleb Schoolcraft and Randy Fluharty all played but did not score.
The Blue Devils also won the junior varsity game by a 39-19 score.
Schoolcraft, Brandon Sampson and Stuart Fitzwater scored four each to lead the Red Devils, now 1-14. Ricky Hall added three and Quentin "Q Dawg" Murphy and Trent Phillips had two each. Derek Dawson, Luke Moore, Sims and Schoolcraft all played but did not score.
Game honors went to St. Marys' Garrett Witchermann with 11.
Calhoun will try to get back on the winning track when it faces Parkersburg Catholic Wednesday night in Senior Night at Mount Zion.
Following that the Red Devils will take on Williamstown Saturday at 8 p.m. in the sectional tournament at Ritchie County High School. The game is the third of a Saturday tripleheader. In the other two games Gilmer will play Paden City and St. Marys will play Wirt. Parkersburg Catholic is top-seeded and has a first round bye. They will play the winner of the Calhoun-Williamstown game next week.
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