Jacob Williams has four 3’s, but Pacers fall to South Ripley
Struggling to find offense while dealing with the absence of two starters, the Switzerland County Pacers varsity boys basketball team fell flat on Saturday night, suffering a 50-30 road loss to South Ripley.
Coach Travis Wrightsman’s Pacers continue to play without starters Cam Craig and Bradley Romans, each of whom are out with medical issues.
Craig had missed 10 games in a row, but came back the night before in a road game against Southwestern, only to re-injure his foot again. The fear is that surgery will be needed, but he is probably out for the rest of the season.
Romans has missed the past several games with a health issue, and has been a steady force for Switzerland County from his guard position. There is no timeline for his return.
The Pacers fell behind early, trailing 17-7 at the end of the first quarter.
Jacob Williams keyed Switzerland County, scoring all seven points in the first on two three-pointers and also adding a freethrow.
The Raiders continued to see its offense roll in the second quarter, as South Ripley scored 16 more points while the Pacers posted 10 points.
Williams again was the Switzerland County offensive force, scoring six more points in a freethrow, a field goal, and his third three-pointer of the half.
Canaan Johnson converted a pair of field goals for the other four Pacer points.
At the half, South Ripley led by a score of 33-17.
The offensive struggles continued for Switzerland County in the third, as again all of the scoring came from behind the three-point line.
Trace Johnson and Cooper Todd each found the range on threes, but that was all the offense that the Pacers could muster, and after three quarters the Raiders had moved out to a 39-23 lead.
In the fourth, Switzerland County again saw just seven points over the eight minute span; while South Ripley added 11 more points to its scoring column.
Williams had his fourth three-pointer of the game in the fourth; while Aiden Griffith accounted for four points on two field goals.
The final margin of victory was 30 for the Raiders, 50-30.
Williams led the Pacers with 16 points in the game —just over half of the team total; while Canaan Johnson and Griffith each added four.
Trace Johnson and Cooper Todd each had three points.
In a unusual note, Switzerland County actually had more three-pointers (six) than it had traditional field goals (five). They were just 2-for-6 from the freethrow line.
Blaine Ward and Cole Henry each led South Ripley with 13 points each.
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In the junior varsity game, Switzerland County won by a score of 47-39.
Kadyn Riley led the Pacers with 14 points in the game; while teammates Mason Peelman and Briar Johnson each finished in double figures with 10 points each.
Cale Collier had six points; Austin Hemingway added three points; and Carson Griffith and Cale Cumbie each contributed two points.