The Switzerland County Pacers collected their seventh win in a row last Thursday night with a 59-49 victory over the Lawrenceburg Tigers.
The Pacers had a slow start in the opening period, as Switzerland County would play more than four minutes before Ben Hickman scored with 2:58 left in the opening stanza.
As much as Switzerland County struggled, the Tigers weren’t faring much better, managing only three baskets and chip in three more at line to take a 9-2 lead.
The final minutes of the first quarter saw the Pacer offense show signs of life, as T.J. Sefton was then sent to the foul line and connected on two attempts, and also had a three-pointer to close the period with Lawrenceburg leading 12-7.
The second quarter started off with the Pacers taking control offensively.
First, Mat Deaton connected on two at the line; and Ben Hickman then buried two baskets in a row to push the Pacers into the lead, 13-12.
Mat Deaton then connected on a basket; but the Tigers would convert a three-point play to tie the game at 15-15. Travis Webster was sent to the line and connected with one of his attempts, but the Tigers would respond with a three-point basket to once again take the lead 18-16.
The Pacers’ defense was intense, clamping down on Lawrenceburg all over the court to keep the Tigers from scoring. With that strong defense, Lawrenceburg would only gain two more points at two different attempts at the foul line — while the Pacers added a basket from Zach Getz and two baskets from Josh Snow to end the first half in the lead 22-20.
The Pacers had outscored the Tigers in the second quarter, 15-8.
The third quarter was evenly matched in scoring, as the Tigers hit a basket and added one at the line; and Pacer Josh Snow scored a basket to keep the Pacers in the lead, 24-23.
The Tigers then scored a basket and a three-pointer to take the lead 28-24; but Travis Webster responded, and as the junior guard was trying to make a three-point shot, he was fouled and sent to the line for three attempts.
After some less than impressive freethrow shooting games early in the season, Switzerland County coach David Todd instituted some early morning free throw practices — and that practice has been paying off at this critical time in the year.
It paid off for Travis Webster, as well, as he connected on all three attempts to tighten the contest; and when B.J. Shelton scored a basket, The Pacers had taken back the lead, 29-28.
A rebound basket by B.J. Shelton and two Josh Snow freethrows expanded the lead to five, 33-28.
The Tigers responded with an offensive run, but Lawrenceburg could not get a firm lock on the lead; and Switzerland County’s Mat Deaton and T.J. Sefton both held the Tigers in check with a basket and two freethrows to keep the Pacer lead at three, 37-34.
The third stanza ended with the Tigers gaining two more at the stripe; and those cut the Pacer lead to just one, 37-36.
With their winning streak hanging in the balance, the final quarter belonged to the Pacers, as Mat Deaton scored first and Ben Hickman followed with a basket and T.J. Sefton added a point at the line.
While Switzerland County was reeling off points, the Tigers only added only one point to their total, and the Pacers moved in front by a score of 44-37.
Ben Hickman, with 3:47 left in the game, would score the last field goal for the Pacers; but again Switzerland County would seal the victory at the freethrow line. The Pacers had the advantage and kept it; gaining points at the stripe and ending with the win 59-49.
Leading scorer for the Pacers in scoring for the night was Travis Webster with 13 points; and Ben Hickman finished with 10 points and six rebounds. Mat Deaton, T.J. Sefton and Josh Snow all added eight points. B.J. Shelton finished with six, Chancey May had four and Zach Getz chipped in two.
The Pacers improved at the free throw line, hitting 26-for-30.
The Pacers will be playing tomorrow (Friday) night at Jac-Cen-Del in an Ohio River Valley Conference game.
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The jayvee Pacers lost Thursday night to Lawrenceburg by a score of 43-35.
Leading the team in points was Kyle Green with 12 points; while Jordan Pavy added six and had six rebounds. Mark Sharp and Daniel Welch each finished with four points and Cliff Meyer finished with four points and six rebounds.
Devon Armstrong chipped in three points; while Brandon Otter finished with two points and had the most assists with three.