Playing a rare midweek game, the Switzerland County Pacer varsity boys basketball team jumped out early and then played smart, consistent basketball down the stretch to defeat Southwestern on Tuesday night by a score of 57-51.
The Pacers used the three-point shot in the opening quarter, getting a trey from Devon Armstrong and a pair from Kyle Green to hold off the homestanding Rebels. Clay Meyer also had two buckets in the opening stanza, and Switzerland County opened up a 15-9 advantage at the first break.
After Southwestern closed to within four with a pair of freethrows to open the quarter, Switzerland County got a bucket from Brandon Otter and another three-pointer by Kyle Green to move the lead out to seven.
Patrick Humes countered with a freethrow for Southwestern; but Brandon Otter and Mark Sharp each sank baskets to extend the lead to 10 with four minutes left in the half.
The Rebels then went on a run, outscoring the Pacers 8-3 for the remainder of the quarter, and the half ended with Switzerland County holding a 27-22 advantage.
Southwestern made a run to open the second half, getting a basket from Patrick Humes; but that was offset by a bucket by Mark Sharp. The Rebels then scored four straight on two freethrows and another jumper by Patrick Humes, and with just under five minutes to play, Southwestern had closed to within a point, 29-28.
Mark Sharp provided some breathing room with a runner in the lane; but Tanner Mahoney matched that to draw the contest back to a single point.
The Pacer offense responded, running off a string of seven straight points – the biggest of which came when sophomore center Brennan Bragg missed on a freethrow attempt to complete a three-point play.
As the ball bounced off the rim, senior Pacer Daniel Welch claimed position and drug down the rebound, then found Brennan Bragg as he was streaking to the bucket for an easy layup.
Southwestern then managed a couple of freethrows by Zack Scrogham, but the period ended with Switzerland County getting three freethrows from Brennan Bragg – who accounted for nine of the Pacers’ 14 points in the third stanza.
Not letting the break slow him down, Brennan Bragg opened the final quarter with a basket that pushed Switzerland County’s lead to 11; and after Tanner Mahoney scored for the Rebels, Mark Sharp sank a pair of key freethrows to keep the lead in double figures.
Each time Southwestern made a run, Switzerland County provided an answer in the final eight minutes, getting key freethrows from Daniel Welch and Michael Haas, and big buckets from Kyle Green, Brandon Otter, and Daniel Welch.
The Rebels got back to within three on a three-point play by Patrick Humes with 28-seconds to play; but the Pacers sealed the win with a freethrow from Kyle Green and a basket by Brandon Otter.
The win pushes the Switzerland County record to 3-1 on the young season, and marks the fifth straight time that the Pacers have defeated the Rebels.
Kyle Green led Switzerland County with 14 points on the night; while Brennan Bragg turned in an outstanding night, as the sophomore contributed 11 points and five rebounds in the effort.
Coach Brian Bowen got another all around game from junior guard Mark Sharp, who had eight points, three rebounds, 10 assists, and three steals.
Brandon Otter had nine points and two steals; Devon Armstrong and Daniel Welch each finished with five points While Daniel Welch also added a team-high six rebounds; Clay Meyer added four points; and Michael Haas contributed one.
Tanner Mahoney led Southwestern with 20 points on the night.
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Switzerland County also won the junior varsity game by a score of 43-38.
Noah Hughes led the Pacers with 11 points; while Travis Tackett was also in double figures with 10. Tray Meyer and Kameron Pavy had six points each; Alec McAlpine added four; and both Josh Hon and Tanner Ross had two points.