Raiders fall to host Southwestern in overtime
By Steve LeMaster
stevelemastersports@yahoo.com
SOMERSET – Host Southwestern outscored McCreary Central 12-5 in an overtime period to top the Raiders 71-64 in a 48th District boys’ basketball game on Friday night.
Longtime rivals, Southwestern and McCreary Central each pushed for a key 48th District win.
Hunter Stevens, a senior guard, led Southwestern with a game-high 25 points. Three Southwestern players reached double figures in the scoring column as Jonathon Gallagher added 19 points and Joe Floyd contributed 13 points.
McCreary Central started strong, outscoring Southwestern 18-11 in the first quarter. The Raiders owned a lead at the conclusion of each of the first three quarters before Southwestern battled back to tie the game at 59-59 and send it into an overtime period.
Matthew Jones (eight points), Jalen Molden (five points) and Logan Dykes (one point) provided additional scoring for the Warriors in the hard-fought win.
The Raiders excelled offensively throughout the district game versus Southwestern.
McCreary Central shot 60.5 percent (23-of-38) from the field. The Raiders were 9-of-17 (52.9 percent) from 3-point range.
McCreary Central shot 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from the free throw line.
Derrick Paige led a balanced McCreary Central offensive effort which featured three scorers in double figures. Paige scored a team-high 16 points for the Raiders.
Finishing directly behind Paige in the McCreary Central scoring column, Hunter Jones posted 15 points.
Brandon Troxell was the third McCreary Central scorer to reach double figures, posting 10 points.
John Cash narrowly missed reaching double figures for the Raiders, scoring nine points. Cash connected on a trio of 3-point field goals in the Raiders’ short effort.
Devin Strunk tossed in seven points, Nick Longmire registered four points and Ryan Jones contributed three points for the Raiders in the loss.
Hunter Jones ranked as McCreary Central’s leading rebounder, grabbing nine rebounds.
Paige chipped in seven rebounds to go along with his team-high 16 points for the Raiders.
