Paige leading Raiders in scoring, rebounding

Photo by Steve LeMaster
Through the McCreary Central boys’ basketball team’s first 14 games in the 2017-18 season, Derrick Paige was averaging 20.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.

By Steve LeMaster
stevelemastersports@yahoo.com

STEARNS – Derrick Paige emerged as a leader for the McCreary Central Raiders early on in the 2017-18 season. Currently, Paige leads the Raiders in both scoring and rebounding.
Through McCreary Central’s first 14 games in the 2017-18 season, Paige was averaging 20.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. The productive Paige is on pace to score over 500 points.
Paige leads the way but McCreary Central remains a balance squad. Raiders Hunter Jones and Nick Longmire are also averaging double figures in scoring.
Jones is averaging 16 points per game while Longmire is scoring an average of 12.1 points an outing.
Delivering inside for the Raiders, Jones and Devin Strunk were averaging four rebounds per contest through 14 games.
John Cash and Strunk are also delivering regularly on the offensive end for the Raiders thus far in the 2017-18 season. Cash and Strunk are averaging 7.3 points and 6.1 points, respectively.
McCreary Central was 6-8 through its first 14 games. The Raiders were shooting 50.1 percent from the field during the stretch. That shooting average included a 40.1 percent clip from 3-point range.
McCreary Central was shooting 64.6 percent from the free throw line through its first 14 games.
The Raiders averaged 25 rebounds per game through their first 14 contests.
McCreary Central’s 6-8 record through its first 14 games included wins over Rockcastle County, Barbourville, Danville, Garrard County Lincoln County and Middlesboro.
The Raiders will compete in the 48th District Boys’ Basketball Tournament in February.