The Cougar varsity basketball team fell to the Floyd County Buffaloes in a Three Rivers District game, 76-54 on February 9. It was a game that, for much of the time, felt closer than it was.
“The scoreboard was not indicative of the effort our kids gave,” Cougar head coach Brian Chitwood said following the game.
Both teams played solid defensively to open the game, which was tied at six with 3:30 to go in the first quarter. A combination of the Buffaloes’ full-court press defense and firing up three pointers helped them go on a 10-2 run to finish the quarter with a 16-8 lead.
The Cougars showed they could break Buffaloes pressing defense in the second quarter, but missed free throws held them back. While the teams each put up 14 points in the quarter, Patrick County could not chip away at the eight-point deficit.
The Buffaloes started the second half with a 9-2 run to extend their lead to 13 points with 5:30 to go in the third quarter. Patrick County answered with a 7-0 run of their own, powered by stellar defensive play. The momentum the Cougars had picked up went away just as fast when the referee waved off a three-pointer for traveling.
“I can’t help but think if the call goes a different way midway in the third period, if that three pointer counts, it’s a five-point game. It stayed eight and we never got closer,” said Coach Chitwood, adding, “we’ve got to live with the call that’s made.”
The Buffaloes took advantage, outscoring the Cougars 19-9 the rest of the quarter, including a last second three-pointer, to extend their lead to 16, at 58-42.
The Buffaloes continued the full court pressure in the final quarter, not allowing the Cougars to string together enough points to close the gap. Floyd County held on for the 76-54 win.
Leading the way for the Cougars was senior Stuart Callahan, who’s play in the paint led to several put-back buckets off missed shots. He finished the game with 16 points on 8-of-9 shootings, and 9 rebounds. “He doesn’t understand the talent, the athlete that he is,” said Coach Chitwood of Callahan. “He’s a very gifted athlete.”
Easton Harris had 10 points, including three 3-pointers, Cameon Collins added 9 points and 3 assists, and Noah Jessup finished with 8 points and 4 assists.
Despite the final score, Coach Chitwood liked the effort his team gave while pointing out areas for improvement.
“We’re still a work in progress. We’re very young, but we’ve got to shoot the ball better from the free throw line. You can’t give good teams advantages like that,” he said. “That’s (Floyd County) a really good basketball team. I’m proud of our effort. Our kids played hard.”
