Simon Kenton 72, Grant County 59
Pioneers stay undefeated in District 32
INDEPENDENCE,
Ky-The game started 30 minutes early due to the
Winter Storm Warning threatening the area. The teams
started of cold like the weather. Scoring took a whole
minute and three attempts by each side before Simon
Kenton's Cody Chambers drove from outside the lane for
a lay-up.
The teams traded scoring opportunities until the game was tied at four. That is when Chambers hit from the perimeter for three and SK led 7-4. That's the closest the Braves would be for the rest of the game.
"The biggest thing was transition defense," said Grant County head coach Jim Hicks. "They started their offense all night long inside our three point line. We were slow down the floor all night."
In the second half neither team wasted any time getting to the basket. Grant County's Andrew Hurley grabbed an offensive rebound for a two point put back, to get within eight points, but Simon Kenton's Andrew Sampson and Cody Chambers each drained a 3-pointer as part of 10 point run.
"We just get on a roll," said Andrew Sampson. "We get real pumped up for the games."
"I thought our defensive pressure was pretty good and making them miss shots," said SK head coach Trent Steiner.
Simon Kenton had its biggest lead of the night, 41-23, when Grant County's Trevor Hunt tried to stop the bleeding with a lay up, but Simon Kenton PIoneers journeyed forward and full speed ahead.
GC's Andrew Hurley led the Braves scoring effort with 16 and Ben Shipp and Tyler Carr each added 12. SK's Cody Chambers finished with 11 and junior guard Andrew Sampson led all scoring with his season
1 2 3 4 F
SK 16 15 21 20 72
GC 11 10 19 19 59
SIMON KENTON
Andrew Sampson 23
Cody Chambers 11
Ryan Mullen 10
Nick Ayers 10
Cody Monson 7
Riley Barnes 6
Trevor Montgomery 3
Jared Swanson 2
GRANT COUNTY
Andrew Hurley 16
Tyler Carr 12
Ben Shipp 12
Trevor Hunt 9
Logan Cummins 5
Austin Johnson 4
Mario Coleman 1
best 23 points.
SK 16 15 21 20 72
GC 11 10 19 19 59
SIMON KENTON
Andrew Sampson 23
Cody Chambers 11
Ryan Mullen 10
Nick Ayers 10
Cody Monson 7
Riley Barnes 6
Trevor Montgomery 3
Jared Swanson 2
GRANT COUNTY
Andrew Hurley 16
Tyler Carr 12
Ben Shipp 12
Trevor Hunt 9
Logan Cummins 5
Austin Johnson 4
Mario Coleman 1
"I finally got over the hump and made a shot," said Sampson modestly with a grin from ear to ear. "Finally got one to fall."
Towards the end of the quarter, the teams traded shots from the permitter and Grant County got within striking distance to trail 52-40. SK made eight 3-pointers and GC made four on the night.
"I thought we lost our focus there in the third quarter. We probably thought we were gonna blow them out by 20," said Steiner. "We subbed a lot in the third quarter and Grant County gained some momentum and that's a credit to them."
In the fourth quarter Grant County trailed by 10 when Andrew Hurley drove the basket to get the Braves within eight and that is where the comeback run would stop. Grant County Drops to 10-8 and
"We're not talented enough to go out there and play a good team like Simon Kenton and only have two or three guys play hard," said Hicks. "I told them after the game I was disappointed and we have to get back to work on Sunday and fix a few things."
Grant County falls to 10-8 overall and 2-4 in District 32. The Braves will host the Ludlow Panthers (4-10) on Tuesday January 24. Simon Kenton improved to 14-6 and goes for the District 32 sweep when the team travels to Williamstown (8-10)(0-5) on Tuesday, January 24 at 7:30.