WEBSTER COUNTY, KY (2/3/12) – Webster County Trojans’ first-ever trip to the Kentucky Touchstone Energy All “A” Classic State Tournament in Frankfort was short-lived last week as they fell 61-51 in the first round to Region 16 Champion West Carter High School early Thursday morning.
A very slow start put the Trojans in a hole they just couldn’t dig out of against a very strong Comet squad that improved to 19-3 on the season. Webster dropped to 13-8. It was the second straight year for West Carter to advance to the quarter-finals.
After a Jacob Scott layup to make it 2-2 at the 7:01 mark of the first quarter, West Carter went on a 9-0 run covering the next five minutes to gain a 11-2 advantage. WC senior Taylor Turner finally stopped the bleeding with a bucket in the paint off an assist from fellow senior Clay Putman.
Scott then hit a 10-footer to cut the lead to 11-6 but the Comets closed out the period with a 13-6 lead.
“We fell behind early and made several uncharacteristic turnovers that accounted for the slow start,” stated WCHS head coach Jon Newton. “West Carter is a very fundamentally sound team that rebounds and shoots free throws very well. They did that down the stretch to help them seal the victory.”
Both squads struggled offensively to open the second quarter until Travis Duvall sparked an 8-0 run with a defensive rebound and layup on the other end with 6:06 to go in the half. Webster didn’t score in the period until the 4:08 mark when Turner converted on an inside bucket, cutting the West Carter lead to 21-8.
After a Comet miss at the other end, Webster committed its ninth turnover of the half leading to a basket by Dustin Black to make it 23-8 with 3:10 to go. Two possessions later, Dan Boswell added a layup to cut the lead to 23-10.
After a pair of free throws from Kyle Cundiff, Webster scored three straight baskets to cut the lead to nine points, 25-16. Jalen Baxter came off the bench with a spark to make it 25-12, followed by a short jumper from Turner. WC senior Blake Major finished the 6-0 run with 30 seconds left in the half with a layup.
A pair of free throws from Cundiff closed out the half with the Comets holding a 27-16 lead.
The teams traded baskets in the opening minutes of the third quarter until Webster used another mini-run to cut the lead to 33-28. Scott hit a jumper while Boswell added a layup followed by a rebound and putback from Turner at the 3:23 mark.
The Trojans clawed their way to within one point, 37-36, with 0:25 left in the period on a pair of free throws from Scott.
After a bucket at the other end from Derek Lawson, Scott drilled a 3-pointer with 11 seconds on the clock to close out the period at 40-39 and give the Trojans the momentum heading into the final eight minutes of the game.
But that would be as close as the Trojans could get the rest of the way. A 4-0 run gave the Comets some breathing room to open the fourth quarter.
A driving jumper in the lane by Scott made it 44-41 but a 6-0 spurt from the Comets extended the lead to 50-41.
Scott answered with a pair of free throws and a rebound plus the putback to cut the lead to 54-45 with 2:16 remaining in the game.
Wester Carter maintained its 9-10 point lead the rest of the way as Cundiff hit four straight free throws and Lawson added two freebies as well and led all scorers with 23 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field plus 12 rebounds.
“I’m really proud of my guys and how they battled and competed. It wasn’t the outcome that we were looking for but I thought we played hard for the entire game,” Newton added. “I couldn’t be any more proud of this group of guys.
Scott powered the WCHS offense with 21 points, including 6-of-6 from the free throw line and one 3-pointer. 17 of his points came in the second half. Taylor Turner had a strong game with 14 points and seven rebounds while Clay Putman finished with six points, six assists and three rebounds. Dan Boswell added four points and five rebounds while Baxter, Major and Kyle Hayes scoring two points each.
“These kids made school history for WCHS boys’ basketball and luckily for us, we still have part of our season remaining and our goals out there that we want to achieve. I think having a taste of success will only motivate my guys and make them even more hungry the rest of the season,” Newton concluded.
Webster will get a chance to take a huge step of earning the Sixth District regular-season title Friday night as they take on Union County. The Braves are 1-2 in district play with a victory over Henderson County. WCHS scalped Union by 30 points Jan. 6 in Dixon and stands 1-1 in district play with a lost to Henderson on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
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