Paden City 74,

Tyler Consolidated 57

The Wildcats’ Kennedy Cain and Luke Cooper teamed for 48 points, including four baskets from beyond the arc, to lead Paden City to a thrilling 74-57 victory over Tyler Consolidated in the championship match of the annual Bob and Sharon Burton Christmas Classic, Dec. 14.

The hosts took a 14-9 lead after one period of play, as Cain and Cooper netted all 14 of the Wildcat points, including a trio of three-point baskets.

In the second period, the Silver Knights started to heat up, scoring the opening bucket. But Cooper answered with a jumper. However, Consolidated twice connected from downtown to take its first lead of the game at 17-16. Paden City quickly called a time out.

The Wildcats evened it up at 19 before Hayden Hizer netted a bucket from the top of the key. However, the Knights’ Josh Smith made a nice bucket inside to even it back at 21.

From that point on, it was all Wildcats. Cain netted one of two free throws to give the lead back to Paden City. Zach Heasley then connected on a bomb and, after a Knight turnover, Cain netted a bucket off an assist by Heasley. Hizer and Cain hit back-to-back triples that forced Tyler Consolidated to call time out.

The Knights ended the second frame with 2-3 free throws, but the ‘Cats remained on top 35-28.

Cooper sank two charity tosses to open the third stanza. After a Heasley steal, Cain swished a deuce. Following the bucket, Heasley committed his fourth foul and sat the remainder of the third period. But, the Knights’ senior Dylan Reynolds fouled out with 4:18 showing on the clock in the third frame.

Cooper and Cain would combine to score 16 of the Wildcats’ 22 markers in the period to break the game wide open.

With the game well in hand, the Knights fought hard and outscored Paden City 18-17 in the final eight minutes, but it was too little, too late.

Cain paced the ‘Cats with 25 points, including three triples, while Cooper netted 23 markers, including one from long range. Craig Allen followed with nine markers, while Hizer contributed eight points, including one bucket from beyond the arc.

In addition, Heasley added seven points, including a triple, while Devin Price contributed a deuce.,

For Tyler Consolidated, Tyler Kocher netted 16 points, 11 of which came in the final eight minutes of play. Cooper, Heasley, and Cain each were named to the all-tournament team.

Valley 89, Hundred 44

The Hornets’ Holden Moore scored 21 points, including one bucket from beyond the arc, but it wasn’t enough, as 14 Valley Lumberjacks players tallied at least a bucket in an 89-44 victory over Hundred in the consolation match of the Christmas Classic Dec. 14.

Jack Wells scored three buckets in the opening period to give Valley a quick 19-10 advantage after one. Eight different Lumberjacks scored buckets in the second stanza, with Wells leading the way with eight points to extend the Lumberjack lead to 46-20 at the break.

Eight Valley players scored in the third period with Dusty Lowe leading the way with eight markers to up the Lumberjack advantage to 67-30 with eight minutes remaining.

Ten different players produced points for Valley in the final period. Wells paced the ‘Jacks with 16 points, while Tucker Cain chipped in with a dozen. Triston Kocher added 10 markers, while Lowe and Joey Preat evenly split 18 markers. Trey Streets and Alex Midcap each recorded six points, while Taylor Bates, Lathe Ueltschy, and Dylan Irvin each netted a pair of buckets.

In addition, Colton Ring, Kinsey Utt, Hayden Lancaster, and Brian Higgins each netted a deuce.

Following Moore’s game-high 21 points for the Hornets were Hunter Goddard with seven markers, including a three-ball, while Andrew King added five points. In addition, Danny Stewart netted four points, while Logan Moore drained a triple, and Danny Kolat swished a deuce.

Hundred’s Holden Moore and Lumberjacks Triston Kocher and Trey Streets each earned their spot on the all-tournament squad.

Paden City 62, Valley 50

Kennedy Cain led four double-digit Wildcat scorers with 16 markers to escape with a hard fought 62-50 victory over the Valley Lumberjacks to win the first round of the Christmas Classic.

The Wildcats doubled up the Lumberjacks, 18-9, in the first, thanks in part to a pair of long-range baskets and a deuce from Hizer, and a pair of buckets and a triple by Cooper.

In the second period, Hayden Lancaster nailed three buckets for Valley, but balanced scoring by the ‘Cats extended their lead to 34-20 at the break.

The Wildcats pushed their advantage to as much as 24 points in the third before before the Lumberjacks chopped it down to 18 by the end of three frames, 48-30.

Valley cut the deficit to nine points before the Wildcats took it away with a flurry to end the contest with a 12-point victory.

Kennedy Cain lead the way for Paden City with 16 markers, while Heasley netted 15 points. Hizer followed with 13 and Cooper ended the night with a dozen. Craig Allen netted two baskets and Devin Price swished a deuce.

For the Lumberjacks, Streets led the way with a dozen, including two long range bombs, while Lancaster, Kocher, and Joey Preat each tacked on 10 markers.

In addition, Wells was held to five points, while Tucker Cain swished a three-ball.

Tyler 70, Hundred 32

The Silver Knights raced out to a commanding 21-0 lead, before settling for a 23-5 advantage after one period of play.

The young Hornets clawed their way back, scoring nine markers in the second period. But the Knights rode the scoring of Jace Reed, Dylan Reynolds and Cole Kocher to extend their lead to 40-14 at the break.

Hundred scored as many as 12 points in the third, but Tyler came away with 20 points in the period to put the game out of reach with eight minutes remaining.

Holden Moore led the Hornets with 17 markers, including one bucket from beyond the arc, while Danny Stewart netted seven markers. In addition, Hunter Goddard and Logan Moore each netted a three-ball, while Joe Mars drained a deuce.

Valley 54, Tyler 47

Streets scored a game-high 27 markers, including five threeballs, to lead the Valley Lumberjacks to a 54-47 victory over Tyler Consolidated to open the 2013-14 season in Kidwell Dec. 10.

Kocher contributed nine markers and 11 rebounds, while Wells dropped in eight points and pulled down 13 rebounds. In addition, Preat netted six markers and cleaned the glass 12 times, while Hayden Lancaster and Tucker Cain each netted a deuce.

Paden City 84, Hundred 26

Kennedy Cain knocked down 25 points and wiped the boards clean 11 times to help carry the Paden City Wildcats to an 84-26 victory against the Hundred Hornets in a mutual season opener Dec. 10 inside the Hornets Nest.

Paden City raced out to a quick 23-3 first quarter advantage and went comfortably into the locker room up 59-7.

It was more of the same in the second half as well, with the Wildcats scoring 35 points, while the younger Hornets netted 19 points.

Luke Cooper and Zach Heasley shared 37 markers and each pulled down 11 rebounds, while Craig Allen followed suit with 11 markers. In addition, Devin Price kicked in eight markers, while freshman point guard Hayden Hizer netted three points.

The ‘Cats recorded 20 steals in the contest.

For the Hornets, Holden Moore knocked down 10 points, including two buckets from beyond the arc, while Hunter Goddard netted eight points, including a pair of three-point bombs. In addition, Andrew King garnered four points and hauled in four boards, while Danny Stewart and Derek Critchfield each knocked in a bucket. Joe Mars didn’t score, but did pull down seven boards.

“We are very young and inexperienced, so its going to take time for us to get use to the speed and pressure of the game,” said Hundred Head Coach Brian Bartlett. “Our defense still needs a lot of work, but it will get there.”

Valley 64,

East Richland 46

Jack Wells led 13 different scoring Lumberjacks with 13 points and 10 rebounds to win Valley’s second straight game of the season, 64-46 at Ohio University Eastern in St. Clairsville, Dec. 12.

After a slow start, with East Richland leading the way 6-5, the Lumberjacks went on a 19-9 run in the second frame to take a 24-15 advantage at the break.

The ‘Jacks pushed their lead to 46-30 after three periods and held on for the 18-point win.

Wells and Preat were the only double-digit scorers for the Lumberjacks with 13 points and 10 points, respectively, while Kocher netted eight. Cain and Lancaster each recorded six markers, while Streets and Dylan Irvin each knocked down two baskets. Alex Midcap, Brian Higgins, Kinsey Utt, Taylor Bates, and Colton Ring each netted a deuce.

West Greene 61, Hundred 31

Hundred played West Greene even in the 11-10 first quarter, but would be outscored 50-21 the rest of the way to drop their second game of the season, 61-31, Dec. 11 in West Greene, Pa.

Holden Moore led the Hornets with 13 points, while Hunter Goddard dropped in nine points and Andrew King netted six points. Logan Moore tacked on three points, while King hauled in a team-high eight boards.

“Our man-to-man defense was a little better tonight,” said Hundred Head Coach Brian Bartlett. “But, we didn’t capitalize on the turnovers that we caused. Offensively we’ve got a lot to learn, but we are young and are improving daily.”

In the junior varsity matchup, Devon Kimble netted five markers and Derek Crichfield and Greg Jones each netted two buckets, but it wasn’t enough as West Greene won 40-18. Joe Mars scored three points and Danny Kolat netted a deuce, while Crichfield hauled in a game-high nine rebounds.

“Our boys just need to get some playing time,” said Hundred’s veteran Assistant Coach Terry Metz. “The more they play, the better they get. All these guys have two or three years to play the game, and they will get there. It will just take some time.”