McCreary Central turns back Danville, 55-44

By Steve LeMaster
stevelemastersports@yahoo.com

STEARNS – McCreary Central made the most of its home opener, defeating visiting Danville 55-44 in an early-season boys’ high school basketball game on Friday night.

With the win, McCreary Central moved to 3-0.

Danville dropped to 0-3 with the loss.

McCreary Central shot 42 percent (21-of-50) from the field. The Raiders were 5-of-19 (26.3 percent) from 3-point range.

McCreary Central shot 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from the free throw line.

The Raiders, under the direction of head coach Jimmy Voight, turned in a solid all-around performance in front of a supportive home crowd.

Derrick Page led McCreary Central with 21 points and 14 rebounds, both of which were game-highs. Paige paced a trio of McCreary Central scorers in double figures.

Hunter Jones scored 14 points and John Cash contributed 12 points for the Raiders. Both Jones and Cash connected on a pair of 3-point field goals.

Nick Longmire and Devin Strunk rounded out the McCreary Central individual scoring, posting five points and three points, respectively.

Strunk ranked as McCreary Central’s second-leading rebounder, pulling down 11 rebounds in the triumph.
McCreary Central remained in the win column after claiming victories over Rockcastle County and Barbourville.

The Raiders have notched double-digit victories in each of their first three games.

Danville came up short again following losses to Mercer County and West Jessamine.

Several Danville basketball players have been making a transition from the gridiron. Earlier in the month, the Danville football team captured the Class 2A championship at the University of Kentucky’s Kroger Field in Lexington.

The McCreary Central and Danville boys’ basketball teams aren’t scheduled to meet again this season.