Raiders upend Garrard County, return to win column

By Steve LeMaster
stevelemastersports@yahoo.com

LANCASTER – McCreary Central returned to the win column on Tuesday, Dec. 12, defeating host Garrard County 78-53 in an early-season boys’ high school basketball game.
With the win, McCreary Central improved to 4-1.
Garrard County dropped to 1-5 with the loss.
McCreary Central shot 51.9 percent (27-of-52) from the field in the winning effort. The Raiders were 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) from 3-point range.
McCreary Central shot 76.9 percent (20-of-26) from the free throw line.
The Raiders outrebounded Garrard County 31-29.
McCreary Central used a balanced attack to beat Garrard County. Derrick Paige led McCreary Central to the win, scoring 23 points and pulling down 12 rebounds, both of which were game-highs.
Hunter Jones netted 21 points and Devin Strunk tossed in 14 points as three Raiders reached double figures in the scoring column.
Nick Longmire flirted with double figures for McCreary Central, netting nine points.
Additional scorers for McCreary Central were Caleb Cox (six points), John Cash (two points), Trevor Strunk (two points) and Tyler Strunk (one point).
Devin Strunk ranked as McCreary Central’s second-leading rebounder, claiming eight rebounds for the Raiders.
Garrard County shot 35.3 percent (18-of-51) from the field. The Golden Lions were 6-of-21 (28.6 percent) from 3-point range.
Garrard County shot 78.6 percent (11-of-14) from the free throw line.
Braden Sebastian led Garrard County in the setback, scoring 13 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Sebastian was the only Garrard County player to reach double figures in the scoring column.
Narrowly missing double figures for the Golden Lions, Trevor Jones and Justin Preston netted nine points apiece while Brice Burkhart chipped in eight points.
Trevor Jones finished directly behind Sebastian in the Garrard County rebounding column, chasing down eight caroms.
McCreary Central and Garrard County aren’t scheduled to meet again this season.