| By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Calhoun exploded for 26 fourth quarter points en route to a 53-51 victory over Ritchie County Tuesday night.
The Red Devils, 4-9, came from behind in the fourth quarter after surrendering the lead to Ritchie in the third but the game wasn't decided until the final buzzer although Calhoun stayed on top down the stretch.
With about a minute to play Calhoun took the lead for good when Ryan Slider stole a Ritchie pass and dribbled from one end of the court to the other to hit a layup.
He was fouled on the play and added the field goal and on the in-bounds pass came up with another steal.
After a quick back and forth between the two teams Slider fired a baseball pass toward a streaking Sam Brady who hauled it in and hit a layup with 19.0 remaining.
Sims hit one of two free throws with 14.6 remaining as Ritchie County was forced to foul to stop the clock. After a miss the ball was batted around and with 11.6 seconds remaining Slider made what may have been the play of the game as he jumped straight up and took the round away from Bradley Leggett with 11.6 left.
But Ritchie was not through and when Bradley hammered in a three-point shot the margin was down to one.
But with 4.9 seconds left Ethyn Miller canned a free throw for the Red Devils to set the final score.
Slider led the way for the Red Devils with 20 points, 11 rebounds and four steals. Sims was next with 11 followed by Brady with 10 points and nine rebounds. Miller followed with six while Mason Sheldon added four. Tyler Gerwig, Lucas Wilson and Cody Starcher all played but did not score.
For Ritchie Riley Allen led the way with 17 while Seth Cottrell added 11.
Ritchie won the girls game 52-46 despite a 19-point effort by the Red Devils' McKenzie Hicks.
Calhoun was scheduled to return to action tonight with another boy-girl doubleheader as it entertains Doddridge County but that was postponed. The Red Devils are now scheduled to return to action Friday night at South Harrison.
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