After a defensive first half, Switzerland County dug itself a bit of a hole in the second half of last Friday night’s consolation game of the Rivertown Classic against host South Dearborn.
Once the Pacer offense did catch fire, Switzerland County tried to mount a furious comeback, but ran out of time and fell by a final score of 55-54.
Switzerland County showed its offensive balance in the opening quarter, getting four points from sophomore center Brennan Bragg; a jumper in the lane from Mark Sharp; and eight points from Kyle Green – including two three-pointers.
South Dearborn was methodical as well, getting points inside and outside, but the Knights couldn’t keep up with the Pacer machine, and Switzerland County held a 14-9 lead with less than a minute to play.
That’s when a South Dearborn shooter was fouled attempting a three-point shot, and when he sank the following three freethrows, Switzerland County headed to the bench at the end of the period holding just a two point lead, 14-12.
Daniel Welch got things going in the second period with a drive down the baseline, but South Dearborn answered that with a basket by Jimmy Scudder and a three-pointer by Joel Scudder to grab the lead. Jimmy Scudder then scored again to push the lead to three; but Switzerland County answered with a pair of freethrows from Kyle Green and two more freethrows by Devon Armstrong to retake the lead.
Another Jimmy Scudder bucket closed the half, giving South Dearborn another lead of just a point, 21-20.
The third quarter was when South Dearborn made its move, outscoring Switzerland County 17-7 over the eight minute span to swell its lead to 11.
Switzerland County stumbled at the freethrow line in the period, missing two of its first three attempts, and would get only two field goals in the entire period – both by Mark Sharp.
The freethrow shooting would come around in a big way, however, beginning at the midway point of the third period when Brennan Bragg made the second of two attempts.
From that point, Switzerland County would make 12 straight freethrow attempts, stretching until the final minute of play in the fourth period. Those made freethrows would go a long way in helping fuel the Pacer comeback.
Travis Tackett, seeing his first extended action at the varsity level, made two freethrows to close out the third period, which drew the Pacers to within 11, 38-27.
South Dearborn would extend the lead even further as the final quarter got underway, getting two straight baskets by Jimmy Scudder to extend the lead to 15.
Switzerland County then went on a 10-1 run over the next three minutes.
The Pacers got two freethrows from Kyle Green; then Mark Sharp converted two charities. Devon Armstrong followed that with a layup; and Brandon Otter made two freethrows and added a basket.
Suddenly, with 2:58 to play, Switzerland County had battled back to within six, 43-37.
The Knights’ Clay Cutter then made a freethrow, but Kyle Green was true on two more freethrow attempts. Joel Scudder made two freethrows for the Knights, and Kyle Green made a runner in the lane to stay within five. Joel Scudder’s jumper then pushed the lead back to seven.
It didn’t last long, as Pacer Clay Meyer wheeled through the lane and was fouled as his shot found the range. When he converted the traditional three-point play, Switzerland County was within four.
South Dearborn then made a freethrow; and Switzerland County’s Travis Tackett was fouled as he attempted a three-pointer. He managed to convert on one of the three attempts; but Switzerland County was then forced to foul, with Joel Scudder making two more freethrows to make the score 51-45 with 30-second left.
Devon Armstrong then drilled a three-pointer that allowed coach Brian Bowen to call a timeout; and again the Pacers were forced to foul Joel Scudder in order to try and get the ball back. Again, the freshman made both attempts to stretch the lead back to five.
With 11-seconds left, Travis Tackett connected on a three-pointer that brought the Pacer faithful to their feet. Switzerland County, out of timeouts, quickly fouled Jimmy Scudder, who made both attempts to make the lead four.
Inbounding the ball, Switzerland County raced upcourt, and Kyle Green nailed a long three-pointer with three-seconds left – but without a timeout to stop the clock, time ran out on the Pacer comeback.
Final score, South Dearborn 55, Switzerland County 54.
Kyle Green led the Pacers with 19 points, while Mark Sharp had eight and Devon Armstrong added seven.
Travis Tackett had six points; Brennan Bragg had five; Brandon Otter had four; Clay Meyer had three; and Daniel Welch contributed two.
Jimmy Scudder led South Dearborn with 21 points; and Joel Scudder added 17.