Raiders fall to Wayne County in double overtime

By Steve LeMaster
stevelemastersports@yahoo.com

MONTICELLO – McCreary Central suffered heartbreak in the opening round of the Kentucky boys’ high school basketball postseason earlier in the week. Host Wayne County managed to outlast McCreary Central 74-64 in double overtime in the opening round of the 48th District Boys’ Basketball Tournament on Monday night.
The loss eliminated McCreary Central from the postseason.
With the loss, McCreary Central ended its season 13-16.
Wayne County improved to 18-13 and advances to the 48th District championship game following the win.
Longtime rivals, McCreary Central and Wayne County swapped leads throughout regulation and during the first overtime. However, Wayne County took control in the second overtime, separating itself from McCreary Central and eventually pulling away to win.
Wayne County shot 41.5 percent (22-of-53) from the field. The Cardinals were 7-of-19 (36.8 percent) from 3-point range.
Wayne County shot 63.9 percent (23-of-36) from the free throw line.
Jakson Baker paced Wayne County with a double-double, scoring 20 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Baker connected on seven field goals for the Cardinals.
Four of five scorers for Wayne County reached double figures in the scoring column. Finishing directly behind Baker in the Wayne County scoring column, Stetson Simpson netted 19 points.
Kameron Gehring scored 14 points while Thomas Spencer posted 12 points for the Cardinals.
Narrowly missing double figures, Aubrey Weaver rounded out the Wayne County individual scoring with nine points.
McCreary Central shot 47.1 percent (24-of-51) from the field. The Raiders were 3-of-15 (20 percent) from 3-point range.
McCreary Central shot 61.9 percent (13-of-21) from the free throw line.
Hunter Jones led McCreary Central with a game-high 22 points. Jones drained eight field goals for the Raiders.
Finishing directly behind Jones in the McCreary Central scoring column and registering a double-double, Derrick Paige posted 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Ryan Jones joined Hunter Jones and Paige in double figures for the Raiders, pushing in 10 points.
Brandon Troxell (five points), John Cash (three points), Devin Strunk (three points) and Nick Longmire (two points) provided the other scoring for the Raiders.
Wayne County will face Southwestern in the 48th District championship game at 7 p.m. on Friday.