By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Parkersburg Catholic showed why its is the third-ranked team in Class A Wednesday night as it broke open a tight game and downed Calhoun, 75-52, spoiling Senior Night for the Red Devils.
Calhoun was hot early in the contest and grabbed an early lead it maintained until about midway through the second quarter.
But that's when Jon Padden scored from close in to give the 17-3 Crusaders their first lead of the game, 23-22. He scored quickly after a Calhoun turnover with one of five three-point shots he hit on the night to put PCHS up 26-22. After that he hit another two-point goal to make it 28-22 in favor of PCHS and Calhoun never was able to recover. Overall in the second period Padden scored 12 of his game high 25.
Padden's outburst gave PCHS a 38-32 halftime lead.
Calhoun scored early in the second half to cut the margin to four but that's when the wheels fell off the offensive wagon for the Red Devils.
Calhoun was outscored 19-8 in the third and 18-12 in the final period to win going away.
Padden was joined in the scoring parade by Cole Cwynar with 24 points while Quinton Collie added 13. The Crusaders two big men 6-7 Dylan Reifsteck and 6-7 Nick Fisher combined for nine points as Calhoun was able to neutralize its height disadvantage.
Calhoun actually out rebounded the bigger Crusaders 27-24 with Zach Moore leading the way with 10 caroms to go with his team-high 14 points. Kyle Keesler chipped in with 13 points and Justin Gerwig added 12.
Anthony Richards came off the bench and scored nine points, going up against the PCHS "Twin Towers" for most of his offensive push. Cai Clothier and Bronson Clark both had two for the Red Devils, 9-10.
Although Chucky Kendall did not score he had a team-high four assists. Also playing and not scoring for the Red Devils were Dan Sims, Tyler Bennett, Brandon Sampson and Randy Fluharty.
Parkersburg Catholic, 10-8, also won the junior varsity game by a 61-45 margin.
David Garvin had 13 and Eric Scott 12 to lead PCHS.
Calhoun, 1-15, was led by Caleb Schoolcraft with a game-high 15 points.
Ricky Hall was next in the scoring parade with eight points and seven rebounds while Trent Phillips had six points and nine rebounds. Quentin "Q Dawg" Murphy and Luke "Tiny" Moore had five each while Sampson added four along with 11 rebounds, two assists and a steal. Bennett had two and Stewart Fitzwater played but did not score.
The game was the last of the season for the junior varsity team.
Calhoun's varsity heads into sectional play Saturday night with an 8 p.m. game against Williamstown at Ritchie County High School. The winner of the Calhoun-Williamstown game plays PCHS next week.
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