By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
There was just too much Luke Smith Wednesday night.
The 6-5 senior scored 32 points - 24 in the second half - to lead the Tigers to a 59-45 victory over Calhoun in a game played at Elizabeth.
The game was close throughout with the Red Devils leading by two - 24-22 - at the half. But that's when Smith got going as his 14 points, all 14 points the Tigers scored in the period, tied the game at 36-36 going into the final period.
But the Tigers went on a 12-0 run to start things out to take a lead that Calhoun was never able to trim.
Smith, again, was the catalyst in that period as he had 10 of Wirt's 23 points.
And he had help as 6-8 Tristan Nichols had three of his seven blocks to thwart the Red Devils whenever they went on offense.
Drew Adams backed Smith with 13 points for Wirt, 9-7,while Aaron Peterman had six, Nichols five, Logan Kerby two and Larry Rood one.
For Calhoun, 6-8, Zack Yanero led the way with 18 points and 11 rebounds. He was backed by Ethyn Miller and Austin Gribble with 10 each. Miller also had four assists while Gribble had eight rebounds.
Dylan Heiney chipped in with five and Dakota Jarvis two. Ben Frederick, Sonny Wilson and Trevor Carder all played but did not score.
The Red Devils were a man short as Caden Hicks was unable to play in either the varsity or junior varsity game.
Wirt enjoyed a sweep as the Tigers posted a 70-49 win in the junior varsity game.
The Tigers had four players in double figures led by Zakk Adams with 16. TJ Conley and Derrick Batten added 15 apiece while Justin Rood had 12. Dalton Griffith added six, Seth Suslik and Josh Ellison four each and Trenton Burdette two.
Carder led Calhoun with 15 points, four assists and four steals while Wilson added 11 points, three steals and two assists. Hayden Richards added seven, David marks six, John Long four, Frederick three, Nick Murphy two and Noah Allen and Levi Gregory one each. Murphy also had 11 rebounds.
Calhoun returns to action Friday night at Clay-Battelle in the West Virginia Hometown Invitational Tournament (WVHIT). There will be no junior varsity game. Wirt is at Williamstown the same night.
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