By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Tyler Sims and Ethyn Miller combined for 33 points as Calhoun grabbed a big second half lead then withstood a torrid Clay rally to beat the visiting Panthers 53-47 Tuesday night in an LKC South matchup.
Sims led the way with 19 points, 15 in the second half including 10 in the third quarter, while Miller scored 10 of his 14 points in the final quarter.
Calhoun, 4-5, shook off a sluggish first quarter and grabbed the lead in the second quarter as it outscored the 4-5 Panthers 14-4.
The Red Devils blew the lead out to 16 points on and held a of Sims' barrage in the third period and held a 38-22 edge heading into the final period.
That's when Clay went to full court pressure and dramatically cut into the lead getting it down to four points on a couple of occasions.
But that was when Miller stole a Clay pass and scored an "old fashioned" three-pointer on a layup and a free throw and Clay was never able to get closer than six the rest of the way.
Sam Brady and William Baker aided the Red Devils' cause with six each while Zack Yanero and Dylan Heiney had four each.
Dakota Jarvis, Luke Sheldon, Lucas Wilson and Tyler Gerwig all played but did not score.
For Clay Jarrod Woodyard led the way with 15, including nine from the free throw line. Stephen Cole added 14.
Noah Taylor chipped in with six, Gavin Nichols and Jared Legg five each and Zach Dorsey with two.
Calhoun enjoyed a sizable 35-19 advantage on the boards as Brady led the way with 11.
Clay won the junior varsity game by a 37-34 count behind the long-range shooting of Isaac Workman, who had three treys and 10 points overall. Geordie Wilkinson added eight, Ely Osborne seven, Nate Canfield six, Kyle Salisbury three, Reece Nichols two and Levi Ramsey one.
Calhoun was led by Ben Fredrick with nine. He was backed by Dakota Jarvis with seven, David Washington with six, Austin Gribble and Caden Hicks with five and Sonny Wilson with two. Ross Vineyard and Case Carter both played but did not score.
Chris Kirkland, Jaron Hall, Noah Allen and Kaleb Nicholas did not play.
Calhoun returns to action Thursday night with a doubleheader at Gilmer County while Clay is at Webster County the same night.
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