Jones, Paige lead McCreary Central past Middlesboro

Photo by Steve LeMaster,  Hunter Jones scored a game-high 20 points to lead McCreary Central past Middlesboro in the Hyden Citizens Bank Classic at Leslie County High School on Saturday, Dec. 30.

By Steve LeMaster
stevelemastersports@yahoo.com

HYDEN – Hunter Jones and Derrick Paige combined to score 39 points as McCreary Central defeated Middlesboro 74-43 in the Hyden Citizens Bank Classic at Leslie County High School on Saturday, Dec. 30.
With the win, McCreary Central improved to 6-8.
Middlesboro dropped to 7-6 with the loss.
McCreary Central, under the direction of head coach Jimmy Voight, shot 59.2 percent (29-of-49) from the field. The Raiders were 12-of-17 (70.6 percent) from 3-point range.
McCreary Central shot 66.7 percent (4-of-6) from the free throw line.
Hunter Jones led the Raiders with 20 points while Derrick Paige contributed 19 points.
McCreary Central featured four scorers in double figures as John Cash tossed in 12 points and Devin Strunk netted 11 points.
Jones and Cash connected on four 3-point field goals apiece for the Raiders.
Nick Longmire and TJ Privett chipped in three points each as the Raiders prevailed.
Caleb Cox, Evan Kidd and Brandon Troxell rounded out the McCreary Central individual scoring with two points apiece.
Paige paced McCreary Central inside, pulling down seven rebounds.
McCreary Central forced outmatched Middlesboro to play from behind throughout the game.
Middlesboro shot 40.4 percent (19-of-47) from the field. The Yellow Jackets were 3-of-12 (25 percent) from 3-point range.
Middlesboro shot 50 percent (2-of-4) from the free throw line.
No Middlesboro player managed to reach double figures in the scoring column., Jabari King and TJ Patterson paced the Yellow Jackets with eight points apiece.
Rivals from neighboring regions, McCreary Central and Middlesboro aren’t scheduled to meet again during the current campaign.