By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Ethyn Miller hit three of four free throws in the last minute of the game to break a 38-38 tie and lead the Calhoun Red Devils to a 41-38 victory over homestanding Clay County Friday.
Miller's shooting gave the Red Devils the lead but it took Zack Yanero's block of a Clay three-point attempt at the closing buzzer to seal the deal for 9-8 Calhoun.
Miller gave the Red Devils the lead at about the minute mark when he hit one of two free throws but it was his second trip to the line with 8.1 seconds remaining that proved to be the clincher when he hit both shots giving the Red Devils a three-point lead setting up Clay's desperation three-point attempt, which was blocked by Yanero.
Miller led the Red Devils with 11 tying teammate Dylan Heiney for game honors. Yanero added eight points and 13 rebounds while Caden Hicks had four, Dakota Jarvis three and Ben Frederick and Austin Gribble two apiece. Gribble did add 10 rebounds as the Red Devils owned a sizeable 33-19 rebounding edge.
Calhoun appeared as if it were going to blow out the Panthers, 0-14, by controlling the first half and running out to a 10-point, 28-18, at intermission.
But the Red Devils came out as flat as a pancake in the second half and a 15-6 advantage by the Panthers cut the lead to one heading into the fourth period.
Although Calhoun maintained the lead for almost all the period Clay roared from behind and took a 38-36 lead before two free throws by Yanero tied things up. After that Miller took over and Clay never scored again.
Jared Legg led Clay with 10 points and was the only Panther to score in double figures. Clay got eight from Noah Taylor, seven from Zach Ahart while Mason Clark and Reece Nichols had four apiece, Zach Dorsey and Walker James two each and Isaac Workman one.
The Panthers won the junior varsity game 66-35 behind Nate Canfield's 27 points. Ryan Burdette added 12 and Ely Osborne 11 for Clay.
Hicks had seven for Calhoun while Trevor Carder and Frederick added six apiece. Hayden Richards and Levi Gregory had four apiece, David Marks and Noah Allen three each and Sonny Wilson two. John Long played but did not score.
Calhoun returns to action today at 10:30 a.m. In the West Virginia Hometown Invitational Tournament (WVHIT) placement round at Robert C. Byrd High School. The Red Devils play Valley of Fayette. Clay is in action also this afternoon when it plays host to Roane County.
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