By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Although it wasn't the basketball equivalent of the perfect storm it was close enough to give Ritchie County a 57-54 victory over Calhoun County in the season-opener for both teams Wednesday night at Mount Zion.
With the Red Devils holding a 41-34 edge heading into the fourth quarter Calhoun developed a bad case of turnover-itis while Ritchie got hot from outside and when the "storm" was over Ritchie was on top 47-41.
That 13-0 run was just enough to give the Rebels the lead and to blunt a couple of Calhoun rallies.
Calhoun was in the driver's seat most of the way and a couple of times appeared on the brink of slamming the door shut on the Class AA Rebels. However, it was not to be because as Calhoun coach Danny Bunch said, "we've got to learn to close it out."
That failure otherwise wasted a superb effort by the Red Devils as a team and Tyler Sims and Ryan Slider individually.
Sims, starting his first varsity game, hit four three-point shots and added a two pointer for a team high 18 points, tied with Slider who also added 11 rebounds.
They were backed by Mason Sheldon with eight, Tyler Gerwig with six and Sam Brady with four. Ethyn Miller, Luke Sheldon and Lucas Wilson all played but did not score.
Game honors however went to Ritchie's Set Cottrill with 19. For the Rebels Riley Allen added 16, A.J. Collins 14, Bradley Leggett six and Dylan Beall two.
Ritchie also won the junior varsity game 47-40 despite a sterling 15-point performance by Austin Gribble. Gribble was backed by Zack Yanero with eight, Dakota Jarvis with seven, Chris Thornton with four and Nick Watkins and Dylan Heiney with three apiece. Austin Hicks, Jerry Jones and Riley Cain all played but did not score.
Shane Spencer was the only Ritchie player to score in double figures with 11.
Calhoun will try to get back on the winning track Friday when it travels to Wirt.
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