The Switzerland County Pacers defeated the South Ripley Raiders by a score of 61-47 last Friday night, and in the process claimed their sixth straight victory.
Mat Deaton was the first to score for the Pacers; but Raider Michael Mathews then connected with a three-point basket. Pacer Chancey May then answered back with a basket, giving the Pacers the early lead, 4-3.
Switzerland County then went on a run — with several Pacers hitting baskets, including a three-point shot by Travis Webster, to take a lead of 19-5.
The Raiders then tried to regain some control, scoring a basket and a three-point shot; but the first period ended with Switzerland County in front by a score of 19-11.
Both teams were very aggressive during the second quarter, changing possession and scoring.
The Raiders would tie the game up nearing the end of the quarter 27-27; but Pacer B.J. Shelton answered that by hitting a basket to take the lead back; and Chancey May hit a three-pointer in the closing seconds to expand the lead, taking Switzerland County into the locker room with a 32-27 lead.
Scoring for the Pacers during the third quarter opened with Josh Snow and Chancey May taking turns hitting baskets while the Raiders were adding their own. Scoring was close, but the Pacers managed to keep the lead. Kyle Green was sent to the line with 1:20 left on the clock, and the freshman scored the last points of the quarter for the Pacers, which ended with Switzerland County holding onto a 41-37 advantage.
The Raiders had outscored the Pacers by one point in the stanza, but the Pacers still kept the lead due to their great first quarter.
Switzerland County fans were hoping the Pacers could hold on for the win against South Ripley; because on a couple of occasions earlier in the year, fans had seen the Pacers jump out to big early leads and then stumble at the close of the contest.
The Pacers didn’t let the fans down on Friday night, however, as they continued scoring in the last quarter. Pacer Zach Getz was first to score in the final period; and Josh Snow followed with a basket. The Raiders only scoring was two points at the line, trailing now by a score of 45-39.
Travis Webster, Mat Deaton and Chancey May all contributed a basket as the final quarter moved on, and those buckets expanded the lead to double figures, 49-39.
The Raiders would add a couple more baskets while sending the Pacer players to the freethrow line.
During the stretch at the charity stripe, the Pacers connected on key freethrows, including Mat Deaton with one, Josh Snow with two; and T.J. Sefton with two. Outstanding freethrow shooting by Switzerland County thwarted South Ripley’s attempts at narrowing the lead.
With less than a minute left, Raider Michael Fear added a three-point shot, but those points only got the Raiders back to within 10 points, 54-44.
The Pacers would once again continue to add from the line; the game would end with Pacers taking the win 61-47.
Three Pacers were in double figures in scoring. Josh Snow, with 16 points, led the team, and his seven rebounds also led the Pacers. Chancey May finished with 15 points; Travis Webster added 10; B.J. Shelton had eight points; and Mat Deaton added seven.
Ben Hickman and T.J. Sefton each chipped in two points; and Kyle Green added one. The Pacers improved on their free throw shooting in the contest, hitting 15-of-20 on the night.
The Pacers are now 9-8 overall and 4-1 in the ORVC. Switzerland County returns to action tonight (Thursday) when they travel to Lawrenceburg for a Rivertown Classic rematch.
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The Pacer jayvee team won by a score of 42-29 against the South Ripley junior varsity team.
Aaron Moore led the team with 13 points; while Kyle Green added 11 and Cliff Meyer had six points and the most rebounds with five.
Mark Sharp finished with five points; Brandon Otter chipped in three; and both Michael Haas and Jim Abbot finished with two each.
The jayvee team is now 11-5 overall and 4-1 in ORVC.