By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
In one corner of the Wood County Christian gymnasium hands a banner with the name and dates of the Wildcats state Christian schools championships ⦠2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, etc.
The Wildcats know what it takes to win the close games as the run of state titles would attest.
Calhoun is coming off back-to-back one-win seasons.
The Red Devils haven't learned to win.
The result was that when the game was on the line in the fourth quarter once WCC took a three-point lead it just pulled away for the 61-50 victory.
Calhoun suffers from something of a "Catch 22" syndrome when it comes to winning the close games, a difficult to break syndrome.
In order to learn to win games you have to win games. But to win games you have to learn to win games. That seemingly endless spiral has hounded the Red Devils all season long as they have played great ball until time comes to close the deal with a win then "ka-blooey."
Tuesday night was a perfect example of that.
Calhoun was in control most of the way and appeared to be headed to its third victory of the season early in the third quarter when it pushed the lead out to double figures on a couple of occasions.
But WCC would not accommodate and kept the pressure on finally cutting the lead to a single point - 42-41 - at the end of the third quarter.
After an exchange of baskets WCC took a three-point lead 47-44 and if was downhill after that for the Red Devils, 2-14.
Overall Calhoun scored eight points in the fourth quarter while WCC had 20.
Jamie Arnold was the biggest thorn in the Red Devils' side as he had 12 of his game high 19 in the fourth. Patrick Goff also had a big quarter for WCC with six of his 12. Zack Hughes, with 18, was the only other player to hit in double figures for the 6-13 Wildcats.
Senior Ricky Hall led Calhoun with 14 points. He was backed by Ryan Slider with 12.
Luke Moore added nine, Tyler Gerwig eight (all in the fourth period), Trent Phillips three and Sam Brady and Lucas Wilson two each. Ethyn Miller and Derek Dawson both played but did not score.
The game was part of a boy-girl doubleheader. In the girls game WCC came away with a 60-23 victory.
The two teams will play in another boy-girl doubleheader tonight when Wirt County comes to Mount Zion.
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