The Switzerland County Pacer varsity basketball team got off to a fast start for the 2005-2006 season last Tuesday night at Madison Shawe; but the Pacers couldn’t keep up the momentum, falling by a final score of 53-47.
The Pacers scored 17 points in the first quarter to open up a 17-6 lead; but saw that lead nearly slip away as the Hilltoppers scored 21 points in the second stanza to send the teams to halftime with Switzerland County holding a 30-27 advantage.
After scoring 17 points in the first quarter; following halftime Switzerland County would only score 17 points in the entire second half — nine in the third and eight in the fourth — as Shawe used pressure and a physical style of basketball to pull ahead in the final period for the win.
The hot first period saw Ben Hickman get the scoring underway after Shawe had scored the first three points of the contest. Tyler May then hit a three-pointer and Ben Hickman scored again to ease the Pacers out to a 7-3 advantage.
After the Hilltoppers scored, the Pacers ran off another string of eight straight points on two buckets by B.J. Shelton and baskets by Mat Deaton and Travis Webster to balloon the lead to 10. A Shawe freethrow was followed by a buzzer-beating basket by B.J. Shelton, and after eight minutes the visitors had their state-ranked hosts on the ropes.
Mat Deaton then opened the second quarter with a freethrow, but Shawe sharpshooter Drew Kring found the range on a three-pointer that cut the lead down to nine. Tyler May then countered that with a three-pointer of his own.
The two teams then traded scores and Switzerland County was holding a 25-14 advantage with 5:38 to play when the Shawe offense woke up.
The Hilltoppers outscored Switzerland County 13-5 over the rest of the quarter, and as the teams went to halftime, the offensive momentum had swung to Shawe.
Clinging to a 30-27 lead entering the third stanza, Coach David Todd’s Pacers saw that evaporate quickly on a basket by Ben Shafer and two freethrows by Brandon Lauster that saw Shawe take a 31-30 lead.
B.J. Shelton answered that with a three-pointer to squeeze Switzerland County back out in front; and after Drew Kring scored to tie the game, a three-pointer by Travis Webster pushed the Pacers back to the lead, 33-31.
Both teams would score six points over the final four minutes, and with just eight minutes left to play, the Pacers were still in front by two, 39-37.
It would be their last lead of the contest.
Two freethrows by Drew Kring tied the game to open the period; and two more freethrows moments later pushed Shawe into the lead. A basket by Ben Shafer and another freethrow by Drew Kring swelled the advantage to five, 44-39; but Tyler May scored on two freethrows to temporarily stop the bleeding and narrow the gap to three.
Shawe would spend the final period at the freethrow line, as the Hilltoppers didn’t make a basket in the final six minutes of the game — but were 10-for-12 from the freethrow line to seal the win.
Switzerland County got solid play from Mat Deaton and B.J. Shelton during the final period; and a late three-pointer by Tyler May got the Pacers back to within four points; but Switzerland County could not convert a key bucket at a key time, falling by a final margin of six points.
B.J. Shelton led Switzerland County with 14 points and six rebounds; and Tyler May finished with 12 points, three rebounds, and five assists. Mat Deaton battled foul trouble throughout the night, but still managed seven points and two blocked shots; and Travis Webster added five points, four assists, and two steals.
Josh Snow had four points and four rebounds; and Zach Getz came off the bench to drill a three-pointer to finish with three points.
Drew Kring led Shawe with 23 points; while Brandon Lauster had 12 and Ben Schafer had 11.
Switzerland County returns to action tomorrow (Friday) night at Trinity Lutheran; and then open their home schedule on Saturday night when Jennings County visits.
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The junior varsity team opened its season with a 36-24 victory over Shawe.
Kyle Green led the team with 13 points; while Aaron Moore added seven and Jordan Pavy had six. Cliff Meyer had four points; and Michael Haas and Devon Armstrong each connected on treys to finish with three points.