He hasn’t started any varsity games prior to this year, but sophomore Austin Clark has certainly made his presence known early in this season, and on Friday night the Pacer center scored a game-high 23 points as Switzerland County routed Trinity Lutheran by a score of 57-39.
Switzerland County got out to a fast start, outscoring Trinity Lutheran 12-3 in the opening period on the strength of three baskets by Keegan Kincaid and field goals by Clint Swanson, Austin Clark, and Quinn Meyer.
Austin Clark then took over the game in the second period, scoring nine points as the Pacers outscored their opponents 20-13 in the quarter to claim a 32-16 lead at the half.
Chase Ritch also had a big quarter, scoring eight points in the period including two three-pointers, and Keegan Kincaid added another basket and Trevor Smith had a freethrow.
With the score doubled at the half, the Pacers continued to roll in the third period, as Coach B.J. McAlister substituted freely to get his full team quality minutes.
Austin Clark kept rolling in the third quarter, scoring eight points in the period to match the output from the entire Trinity Lutheran squad.
The Pacers got three-pointers from Quinn Meyer and Chase Ritch and another basket by Keegan Kincaid, and by the time the third quarter ended, the Pacers were in full command, leading 48-24.
The final quarter saw quality minutes for the Switzerland County jayvee players who still had a quarter of eligibility remaining for the night, and after Austin Clark made two more buckets, his night ended early with 23 points.
In that final quarter Switzerland County also got a freethrow from T.J. White; and baskets by Keegan Kincaid and Chase Ritch; and Trinity Lutheran outscored the Pacers by a 15-9 count – but it was too little, too late, and the Pacers returned home with another win, 57-39.
Along with Austin Clark’s 23 points; the Pacers were led by Chase Ritch with 13 and Keegan Kincaid with 12. Quinn Meyer added five; Clint Swanson had two; and Trevor Smith and T.J. White had one point each.
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In the junior varsity game, Switzerland County defeated Trinity Lutheran by a score of 40-30.
Justus Powell led all scorers with 12 points; while T.J. White was also in double figures with 10.
Riley Phagan added nine points; Ben Curran had four points; and Dakota Taylor had three.
Bob Tressler had two points; while Nathan Hunter had two assists.