BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Raiders drop district game to Wayne County

Hunter Jones netted 19 points to lead McCreary Central in a 48th District game versus host Wayne County on Friday night.

By Steve LeMaster
stevelemastersports@yahoo.com

MONTICELLO – McCreary Central fell short in its bid to claim a fourth straight victory and a key 48th District win on the road late last week. Host Wayne County held on to defeat the Raiders 57-56 in a 48th District boys’ basketball game on Friday night.
With the loss, McCreary Central slipped to 9-13 overall and 1-3 in the 48th District.
Wayne County improved to 14-11 overall and 2-2 in the district with the win.
Homestanding Wayne County shot 37.3 percent (19-of-51) from the field. The Cardinals were 8-of-24 (33.3 percent) from 3-point range.
Wayne County shot 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from the free throw line.
Inside, Wayne County outrebounded McCreary Central 32-25.
Jakson Baker led Wayne County with a game-high 20 points and six rebounds. Baker connected on a trio of 3-point field goals for the Cardinals in the win.
Accompanying Baker in the Wayne County scoring column, Thomas Spencer added 12 points and six rebounds for the Cardinals.
Kameron Gehring and Aubrey Baker narrowly missed reaching double figures for Wayne County, netting nine points apiece.
Stetson Simpson and Riley Woods rounded out the Wayne County individual scoring, chipping in four points and three points, respectively.
McCreary Central shot 40 percent (18-of-45) from the field. The Raiders were 6-of-13 (46.2 percent) from 3-point range, faring even better beyond the arc.
McCreary Central shot 82.4 percent (14-of-17) from the free throw line.
Hunter Jones led McCreary Central with 19 points. Jones drained three of the Raiders’ six 3-point field goals.
Derrick Paige was the only other player to reach double figures in the McCreary Central scoring column, posting 15 points for the Raiders.
Nick Longmire scored six points while John Cash and Devin Strunk chipped in five points apiece for the Raiders.
Ryan Jones contributed four points and Caleb Cox tossed in two points for McCreary Central in the district matchup.
Strunk led the Raiders on the glass, grabbing a team-best six rebounds.
Both McCreary Central and Wayne County will compete in the 48th District Boys’ Basketball Tournament later in the month.