By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Clay rallied to give it its best shot but in the end the one-two punch of Tyler Gerwig and Tyler Sims was just too much as Calhoun held off a Mustang rally to post a 34-23 victory Monday night, the Red Devils' fourth straight win.
After spotting Clay an early lead Calhoun rallied and forged ahead by double figures for most of the game only to have Clay come out firing in the second half and cut the margin to five on one occasion before the Red Devils righted things.
Gerwig led Calhoun with a game high 12 points and 14 rebounds with six of those points and as many rebounds coming in the fourth quarter when he took over inside.
Sims was next with 11. He made a couple of three-point goals in the second quarter to put Calhoun ahead to stay but it was his clutch free throw shooting in the fourth quarter when he hit three of four to seal the deal.
It was not a two-man effort for the 6-5 Red Devils, however, as all eight players on the roster contributed in one way or another.
For instance Tyler Tanner had six points, which were especially important when Clay tried to double team Gerwig inside. Kirkland Allen had only three points but his eight steals really disrupted the offensive flow for Clay. Sammy Brady (two points) and Lucas Wilson also caused trouble for Clay's offense with their ball hawking skills. Wilson had three steals and Brady added two.
Luke Sheldon and William Baker both played but did not score despite giving the Red Devils valuable minutes off the bench.
Clay, now 2-3, was led by Stephen Cole with 10. He was the only Mustang to hit double figures.
Clay won the B game 37-19 but it wasn't because of a lack of long range bombarding by the Red Devils.
Ethyn Miller and Nick Watkins scored nine each as both had a trio of threes. Austin Davis had the other point for the 0-11 Red Devils who were playing without the services of starters Austin Gribble and Riley Cain, both who missed the game with illnesses.
Jerry Jones, Christopher Kirkland, Chris Thornton, Justyn Starcher, Dustin Turner, Robby Lamp, Nick Murphy and Kyle Farrell all played but failed to score.
Bailey led Calhoun with six rebounds while Lamp added four and two steals.
John Ratliff led a balanced attack for 3-2 Clay with nine points.
Calhoun returns to action tonight at Doddridge County.
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