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By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink
In a game nearly devoid of any offense homestanding, Braxton County had one good quarter and made it stand up in a 58-41 victory over Calhoun County Thursday night.
The Eagles, 1-3, scored 23 points in the second quarter (to Calhoun's eight) breaking open a close game after which they let the air out of the ball on offense while harassing the Red Devils on defense.
After digging itself into a 32-15 halftime hole the Red Devils were able to climb back and cut the margin to single digits in the fourth quarter before losing offensive leader Ryan Slider to fouls.
Actually Slider had only four fouls when he was waived out of the game according to a check of the numerical foul index in the Calhoun scorebook.
The Braxton book had Slider with five fouls and the Braxton book was the official book meaning the agile junior was gone from the contest about halfway through the period.
At that time Calhoun was closing in on Braxton, but after Slider went out the Eagles were able to widen the margin while running out the clock.
That came despite Calhoun having its best quarter of the game with 19 points.
But Braxton offset most of Calhoun's offensive prowress by camping out at the foul line where its numerous free throws proved to be enough to keep the Red Devils at bay.
Slider had a game high 17 points before fouling out while teammate Luke Moore added 13 for the 0-4 Red Devils.
Ricky Hall had five while Trent Phillips, Mason Sheldon and Tyler Gerwig added two each.
Derek Dawson, Lucas Wilson, Sam Brady, Tyler Tanner and Ethyn Miller all played but did not score.
Braxton County was led by Austin Rhodes with 16 points, 14 coming in the first half.
Derek Barnett added 11 for the Eagles and McKinley Moore had 10.
Braxton also won the reserve game 49-46 but it was not without a few tense moments.
The game was finally decided when Brent McMillion hit a pair of free throws with 19.9 remaining.
Trae Stout led the Eagles, 1-3, with a game high 23. He was backed by Josh Skidmore's 14 as they were the only two players to score in double figures.
Calhoun was led by the inside duo of Brady and Tanner.
Brady took scoring honors with 18 while Tanner added 13. Tanner was the top rebounder with 15 caroms while Brady had 11.
William Baker hit three three-point goals for nine points while Miller added five and Luke Sheldon two. Dakota Jarvis, Riley Cain, David Workman and Austin Gribble played but did not score.
Calhoun returns to action Monday night in a home game against Hannan. | 
