Jacob Williams fires for 22; but Pacers fall to Rising Sun, 66-57
A huge discrepancy at the freethrow line proved very charitable for Rising Sun on Friday night, as the Shiners downed Switzerland County by a final score of 66-57.
For the game, Rising Sun was 27-for-34 from the freethrow line — a perfect 12-for-12 in the fourth quarter — while Switzerland County was 10-for-15 at the stripe.
As with all Switzerland County-Rising Sun games, the contest was closely fought, as Rising Sun managed to pull out to a 16-15 lead after the first quarter.
Bradley Romans was hot for the Pacers in the first, connecting on two three-pointers; while Jacob Williams accounted for four points on two field goals.
Aiden Griffith had three points in the opening stanza on a traditional three-point play; while Canaan Johnson added a bucket for two points.
Peyton Merica had six points in the first for Rising Sun, as the Shiners went to the line 14 times in the first eight minutes of play, converting 10 of those attempts.
The second quarter was critical in the contest, as the Shiners erupted for 23 points in the period while holding Switzerland County to 13.
For the Pacers, Williams had two field goals and a pair of freethrows to account for six points; while Dylan Sullivan had two buckets for four points and Romans added his third three-pointer of the game.
Rising Sun rode the hot hand of Brody Morris in the second, as the sophomore accounted for 16 points in the period, including four three-pointers, a field goal, and two freethrows.
As the teams headed into the halftime break, Rising Sun held a 39-28 lead.
The third quarter was rather ugly offensively, as Switzerland County managed just five points in the stanza while Rising Sun had just nine.
Canaan Johnson and Griffith each had baskets for Switzerland County in the third, and Williams provided a freethrow.
Down by 15 points heading into the fourth quarter, the Pacers made a run in the final eight minutes, scoring 24 points while limiting Rising Sun to 18.
Williams caught fire in the fourth, scoring 11 points on two freethrows; three field goals and a three-pointer.
Cooper Todd had a field goal and a three-pointer for five points; Canaan Johnson had a traditional three-point play; and Griffith had three freethrows. Sullivan also contributed a bucket for two points.
Dylan Martin was 8-for-8 from the line in the fourth for Rising Sun; while Merica had four points on a field goal and two freethrows; Brady Works had four on two freethrows and a bucket; and Nate Graver had a basket.
The big quarter cut the lead considerably for Switzerland County, but it wasn’t enough and Rising Sun maintained possession of the ‘Ruler of the River’ trophy with a nine-point win, 66-57.
Williams rode his big fourth quarter to lead the Pacers with 22 points; while Romans finished with nine after his tremendous three-point shooting.
Griffith had eight points; Canaan Johnson had seven points; Sullivan finished with six; and Todd had five.
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In the junior varsity game Switzerland County defeated Rising Sun by a final score of 39-32.
Carson Griffith and Cale Collier each had nine points to lead the Pacers in scoring, while Kadyn Riley had eight.
Mason Peelman had seven points; and Briar Johnson six points.