By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Tyler Sims had a season-high 26 points Friday night but none were more important than the three free throws he made in the last 15 seconds to lift visiting Calhoun to a 53-48 victory over South Harrison.
Calhoun, 5-9, took a 6-0 first quarter lead and never trailed as it maintained an 8-12 point lead for most of the game.
South Harrison, however, managed to come up with a fourth quarter rally that cut the lead to two points on a couple of occasions before Sims' clutch free throw shooting closed the deal as the game wound down. Overall in the game Sims hit 11 of the 12 free throws he shot as Calhoun as a team was 20 of 26 shaking off a run of poor free throw shooting that had plagued it earlier in the season.
Ryan Slider backed Sims with 14 points including a perfect 6-6 at the free throw line. He also had nine rebounds.
Sam Brady backed them with six points as he hit all three shots he tried while coming up big on the boards with 11 rebounds. Mason Sheldon with five points and eight boards was next an Ethyn Miller chipped in with two. Tyler Gerwig, Lucas Wilson and Cody Starcher all played but did not score.
South Harrison, 4-11, was led by Zach Wentz with 23. He was backed by Cory Messenger and Dylan Smith with nine each.
The game was part of a boys-girls doubleheader.
Calhoun swept the affair as freshman MaKayla Smith scored 11 points to lead the Red Devils, 4-12, to a 44-31 victory.
Calhoun jumped to a 12-4 first quarter lead and, despite a couple of runs by the Hawks, pulled away from there.
For the Red Devils Kenzie Hicks added nine, Bailee Cain eight, Sam Harris six, Shayla Arnold and Autumn Smith four each and Ashley Hersman two. Taylor Garrett, Tori Allen, Aleah Dye and Hannah Burris all played but did not score.
South Harrison was led by Abby Lightner with 11.
Calhoun's girls team returns to action Tuesday night at home against Gilmer County while the boys team is home to Hannan for a Monday night doubleheader.
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