Cats Varsity, JV top Crystal City

The Fredericktown Blackcats had too much power inside Crystal City Tuesday night, and came home with a 16 point victory. The Hornets scored first but a three pointer by Eli Skaggs and a three point play by Ryan Sawyer gave FHS the early lead. Mike Crowell and Jerod Williams each had six points, and the Cats led 23-10 at the end of the first quarter.

The Cats had only three points in the first four minutes of the second period, and Crystal City took the quarter 12-11, trailing at half 34-22.

The Hornets had an eight point run in the middle of the third quarter, but Crowell had two three-point plays and ten points in the period as the Cats built their lead to 55-40.

Seven Blackcats scored in the 17-16 final period, and FHS won by a final score of 72-56.

Mike Crowell led the Cats with 22 points, followed by Williams 14. Dustin Bess had 11, Eli Skaggs nine, Sawyer seven, Kaleb Francis three, Drew Johnson and Levi Hawkins two each, and Logan Royer and Ryan Thompson one each.

The JV Cats also won by building a 16 point half-time lead, and holding on for the win. Jake Sikes had ten points and Tanner Swope eight as the Cats took the first two quarters 16-5 and 20-15.

Crystal City chipped away at the lead in the third period outscoring the Cats 17-9, and trailing 45-37 at the end of the quarter.

The Hornets continued to reduce their deficit, and the JV Cats led 55-50 with 1:30 left. Eleven points in the quarter by Ryan Gifford preserved the lead, but Crystal closed to within 61-59 before Zach Sohn hit two free throws with seven seconds for a 63-59 win.

Sikes and Gifford each had 17 points, followed by Swope with nine, Luke Cureton eight, Joe Lewandowski and Zach Sohn four each, and Tyler Hagy and John Wanner two each.