Cats Split with South Iron

The Fredericktown Blackcats took a 67-60 loss, but surprised South Iron with an 11-0 first quarter start at Annapolis Tuesday night. All five starters scored; Mike Crowell had three baskets, and FHS led 19-8 at the end of the quarter.

The Cats maintained the lead at 26-18, but the South Iron full court press started having its intended effect, creating turnovers and interrupting the Cat offensive flow. The Panther’s 8-0 run tied the score at 26-26. A free throw gave the Cats a 27-26 halftime lead.

In a physical third quarter, the Cats maintained a slim lead at 35-34, but South Iron scored six unanswered to lead 40-35. Jake Sikes had six points in the quarter, and FHS trailed 45-39 entering the final period.

Jerod Williams was called for his firth foul at the beginning of the final period; and the Panthers scored four quick points to lead by ten. They pulled away at the point; and the Cats trailed by 13 at 57-44 and 65-52, but they never gave up. Crowell and Eli Skaggs each hit three pointers and Logan Royer hit a trey at the buzzer to cut the margin of loss to seven.

Mike Crowell led the Cats with 23 points. Sikes had 12, Skaggs nine, Kaleb Francis, Ryan Sawyer, and Williams four each, Royer three, and Ryan Gifford added a free throw.

Score by Quarters:

1  2  3  4  Final

Cats 19 8 12 21 60

South Iron 8 18 19 22 67

The JV contest was a game of surges. Ryan Gifford had eight first quarter points, but the Cats trailed 17-13 at the end of the period. After the JV Cats made a free throw, South Iron had an 8-0 run to lead 25-14. The Cats then closed the half with their own 9-0 run to trail by one at the half 27-26.

FHS scored the first eight points of the third period, completed a 17-0 run and led 34-26. The Cats built the lead to 49-35 before South Iron scored to trail 49-38 entering the final quarter.

Trailing 55-46, South Iron fought back with a 9-0 run to tie the game at 55. Ryan Gifford took over from there, scored eight of his 11 fourth quarter points and led the JV to a  64-60 victory.

Gifford led the scoring with 19. Luke Cureton had 11, Caleb Killian nine three treys, A.P. Lewandowski eight, Codee Stamp five, Tyler Hagy four, Jacob Farmer three, John Wanner and Wacey Walters two each, and Jonathon O’Neil one.

Score by Quarters:

1  2  3  4  Final

Cats 13 13 23 15 64

South Iron 17 10 11 22 60