By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Clay broke open a close game in the second quarter and cruised to a 59-38 victory over visiting Calhoun County Tuesday night.
Calhoun had kept the game close, trailing 17-14 at the end of the first quarter, and had closed to within two points, 22-20, early in the second period only to have Clay score 12 straight points to take 34-20 halftime lead.
That was as close as the Red Devils would get as the Panthers outscored them 9-3 in the third and 16-15 in the fourth to set the final score.
Calhoun had trouble stopping Clay sophomore Stephan Cole in the first half as he scored 16 of the Panthers first 34 points. But when the found a way to stop him in the second half - he had one more point to finish with a game high 17 they were unable to stop anyone else as the Panthers moved to 4-6 on the season.
Charles Cole added 14 points and Jarrod Woodyard added 11.
Ryan Slider led Calhoun with 10 and was the only Red Devil to get into double figures.
He was backed by Ricky Hall with nine, Tyler Gerwig with six, Mason Sheldon with four, Trent Phillips and Sam Brady with three each, Ethyn Miller with two and Luke Moore with one. Lucas Wilson, Derek Dawson and Tyler Tanner all played for the 1-8 Red Devils but did not score.
Clay won the reserve game too, 58-42, as the Red Devils played without Lucas Sheldon and Austin Gribble.
After falling behind 28-5 at the end of the first period the Red Devils played catch up the rest of the way. Calhoun outscored the Panthers 19-4 in the second period to make the game close. Clay pushed the lead back out in the third period with a 19-7 advantage only to have Calhoun come back with an 11-7 edge in the fourth quarter.
Brady led Calhoun with 18 points and 10 rebounds. William Baker added nine for the 2-7 Red Devils while Miller had eight and Tanner seven.
Dakota Jarvis, David Workman, Riley Cain, Mykia Holbert and Nick Watkins all played but did not score.
Calhoun will try to get back on the winning track Thursday night when it travels to Gilmer for a doubleheader.
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