Pacers close regular season with tough loss to Madison, 41-33
In a game that lacked consistent offense throughout, the Switzerland County Pacer varsity basketball team dropped its regular season finale last Thursday night with a 41-33 loss to the Madison Cubs.
Madison opened the game with back-to-back baskets by Landon True and Quincy Reynolds; and the Pacers got on the board at the four-minute mark when Cooper Todd drilled a three-pointer. Kadyn Riley followed that with a rebound and put back bucket, and Switzerland County held a 5-4 advantage.
Reynolds scored again for the Cubs, and the first quarter ended with Pacer Canaan Johnson getting an offensive rebound and a put back and then a short jumper at the horn, and after one quarter Switzerland County led by a 9-6 score.
The second period opened with Jacob Williams making one-of-two freethrows to push the lead to four; but Madison responded with Ryder Jones hitting a three-pointer. Williams again went to the line and converted a freethrow; and when Jones scored again, with three minutes to play in the half the game was tied at 11-11.
The Cubs took a lead when James Schafer scored inside; but Canaan Johnson tied the game again with a pair of freethrows.
Again Canaan Johnson closed the period with a basket; and the teams went to the halftime break with the Pacers in front 15-13.
Riley opened the third quarter for the Pacers with a three-pointer that extended the lead to five; but Mason Davis scored for Madison to keep things close.
Todd hit a short jumper to again make the lead five; but the Cubs got a basket from Reynolds; two freethrows from Reynolds; and a basket by Jones to suddenly move out to a 21-20 lead.
Aiden Griffith made a steal and converted a layup to again put the Pacers in front at the 2:06 mark — but those would be the last points Switzerland County would scored in the quarter.
Jones made another jumper; and Reynolds made a three-pointer — and the third quarter ended with Madison in front by a 26-22 count.
Bradley Romans opened the final stanza with a three-pointer to draw the Pacers to within one; but the Cubs responded with a traditional three-point play from Reynolds to push the lead back to four.
The referees got involved at the six minute mark, hitting Pacer Romans and Cub Schafer with double fouls for physical play; and the resulting alternating possession gave Switzerland County the ball — and Griffith was fouled and made two freethrows.
Madison then made a critical run, getting two freethrows and a jumper from True that extended the Madison lead to six; and after Williams made another freethrow; the junior who has been a key piece of the Switzerland County team this season got sent to the bench with his fifth and final foul with 2:03 remaining.
With Williams on the bench; True made two more freethrows; but Todd drilled a jumper to keep the Pacers in play.
Again Madison made a run, getting a freethrow from Reynolds, a basket by Reynolds, and a freethrow by Davis to make the score 39-30 with a minute to play.
Riley hit a three-pointer for the Pacers in that final minute; but the Cubs got a pair of freethrows from True to seal the game, and the contest ended with Madison earning a 41-33 win.
Riley led the Pacers with eight points and also added two rebounds; while Canaan Johnson also had eight points and had five rebounds and two assists.
Todd had seven points, five rebounds and an assist; Griffith finished with four points and four rebounds; Williams had three points, three rebounds, and two assists; and Romans had three points and a pair of rebounds.
Madison was led by Reynolds with 17 points; while Jones and True each finished with 10.
The loss closes the regular season for Switzerland County with a 9-14 record heading into this past Tuesday’s Sectional game with Milan (7-15).
Madison heads into Sectional play with a record of 4-19, and the Cubs were to play Scottsburg (16-5) in the first round.
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In the junior varsity game, Madison defeated Switzerland County by a score of 57-36.
The Pacers were led by Briar Johnson with 14 points; and Carson Griffith added eight.
Austin Hemingway and Mason Peelman each had five points; Kale Cumbie had two points; and Leeland Goins and Cale Collier each added one point.
The game wraps up the season for the jayvee team.