The Switzerland County boys varsity basketball team got its highly-anticipated season underway last Tuesday, November 26th, with a 65-46 victory over Oldenburg Academy.
Coach Travis Wrightsman’s Pacers opened their schedule without senior stalwart Kadyn Riley, who suffered a knee injury in the team’s exhibition game; but still posed a lethal threat led by seniors Cam Craig and Cooper Todd and sophomore Isaac Williams.
The Pacers jumped out early on the strength of two freethrows by Carson Griffith and a bucket by Cam Craig; and after Oldenburg’s Isaiah Waggoner scored, Cam Craig had another basket. Waggoner answered that for the Twisters; but when Cam Craig converted a traditional three-pointer and Isaac Williams drilled a three-pointer from the top of the key, Switzerland County had jumped out to a 12-4 advantage.
Oldenburg’s Jack Freeland answered that with a trey; and the home crowd got some real excitement at the end of the quarter when Pacer junior Cale Collier connected from just inside of halfcourt to close the period with Switzerland County on top by a score of 15-7.
The Twisters opened the second quarter with a three-pointer from David Koch; but Isaac Williams matched that with his second three of the contest, and Mason Peelman added an inside bucket to double the score before Collier got free again and hit a jumper to make the score 22-10.
Henry Wanstrath scored to temporarily halt the Pacer run; but Cam Craig connected on two freethrows and Todd scored off of an assist from Isaac Williams to make the score 26-12.
After Grant Goldsworth scored for Oldenburg; Cam Craig went on a tear to end the second quarter, scoring two straight field goals and then adding two freethrows, and the first half ended with Switzerland County in front, 32-14.
The second half opened with Isaac Williams hitting his third three-pointer of the game; and following an Oldenburg bucket, the sophomore hit a jumper that kept the Pacer offense rolling.
Oldenburg’s Zach Hoff was then fouled in the act of shooting a three-pointer, and he made all three of the attempts; and when Adam Weber scored for the Twisters moments later, it was the first time in the entire game that Oldenburg had scored back-to-back points.
Todd stopped that run with a jumper for the Pacers; and Cam Craig hit an inside jumper that again allowed Switzerland County to assert its dominance.
The Twisters, down by 20, made a run as the third quarter closed, scoring seven straight points; but Isaac Williams made a field goal that halted that streak; and the teams went to the final eight minutes of play with the Pacers in front by 15 points, 43-28.
Peelman opened the final stanza with a bucket inside; and Freeland got Oldenburg going with a three-pointer.
Cam Craig then (again) took over, scoring six straight points for the Pacers. Collier followed that run with bucket; and the Switzerland County lead was again 20 points.
Freeland made another trey for the Twisters; but Craig matched that from long range — and that ignited another offensive run, as Switzerland County outscored their guests 5-2 over the next minute — with all five Pacer points coming from the freethrow line. Griffith had three of those points, while Todd picked up the other two.
From that point Coach Wrightsman emptied his bench, getting his subs some key varsity minutes, with Caleb Byrd’s basket at the buzzer for Switzerland County providing the final margin of victory — 65-46.
Cam Craig led all scorers with 26 points on the night; while Isaac Williams rode his three three-pointers to double figures, finishing with 13 points.
Griffith and Collier each added seven points to the victory; while Todd finished with six; Peelman had four; and Byrd contributed two.
Oldenburg was led by Freeland with 13 points.
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In Tuesday’s junior varsity game, Switzerland County defeated Oldenburg Academy by a score of 40-21.
The Pacers were led by Corbin Craig with 10 points; while Austin Johns had eight and Caleb Byrd had seven.
Brian Jones had five points; Madden Peelman had four; and Luke Sullivan and Riley Smith had three points each.