By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Both Calhoun and Gilmer planned to come out in the second half and play 'in your face" pressure defense. Both did. But Calhoun blinked.
And because of that blink Gilmer enjoyed a 26-13 advantage in the third quarter en route to a 77-62 victory over the Red Devils Wednesday night in Glenville.
Other than that third quarter blink the game was a wash.
As a matter of fact other than that the game was about as close as could be with both team having four double figure scorers, both team having a strong game off the boards and both teams having a decent night as far as ball handling and turnovers went.
But that third quarter â¦
Calhoun was on top by two at halftime - 28-26 - and a tense battle appeared destined in the second half.
But it didn't happen.
Instead Gilmer's Cunningham brothers - Austin and Colby - and Austin Ratliff got on a roll offensively scoring 23 of the team's 26 points. Austin Cunningham had nine of his game high 25 in that quarter while Colby Cunningham and Ratliff had seven each.
Austin Cunningham was backed by Ratliff with 17, Colby Cunningham with 13 and Corey Grogg with 11. The Titans, 9-2, also had seven points from Natah Allison and six from Zach Chapman.
Calhoun, 3-8, was led by Ryan Slider with 19. He was back by Tyler Sims with 13 and Sam Brady and Tyler Gerwig with 10 each. Ethyn Miller and Lucas Wilson added four each while Mason Shsldon chipped in with two.
The junior varsity game was nowhere near as suspensful as Gilmer took a quick 11-6 first quarter lead then went hammer-and-tong pounding on the Red Devils the rest of the way for a 68-21 victory.
Lukas Sirbaugh led the way for the Titans with 15 while Anthony Dean and Cole Haley had 10 apiece. Trey Shuff and Jakob Pritt added six each as Carter Springer had four and Bryce Roberts and Noah Aviles had three each.
Calhoun was led by William Baker and Nick "The Titan Slayer" Watkins with five each. Zack Yanero had four, Luke Sheldon three and Austin Gribble and Dylan Heiney two each.
Jerry Jones, Dakota Jarvis, Riley Cain, Chris Thornton and Christopher Kirkland all played but did not score.
Calhoun will try to get back on the winning path Friday night when Wirt County travels to Mount Zion. Gilmer travels to Clarksburg Notre Dame on the same night.
| 
