AC-S Shows Strides But Suffers Setback at South Warren; Finish Regular Season with Solid Effort at Butler County

By Don Meador,
Sports Writer

Often when two teams meet on the basketball court in the same regular season, coaches use the second meeting to gauge where the team has come since the first match-up. On December 12, South Warren dominated Allen County-Scottsville in a 100-72 win at Patriot Gym. On February 17, the teams played again.

South Warren won 72-62 but the game was not a lopsided affair as the first contest had been for most of the way. The Patriots played a solid game as evident by several stats. AC-S made 23-51 field goals (45.1 percent), sank 10 of 26 three-point attempts (38.5 percent), and was six of eight at the line (75.05). The Patriots turned the ball over 10 times.

Compare the good AC-S offensive numbers with South Warren’s shooting stats and you will see how close the game was. The Spartans were hot from the floor. South sank 26 of their 47 shots (55.3 percent), buried 10 of 19 three-pointers and went 10-12 at the line. The Spartans did out rebound the Patriots 28-24.

AC-S was within three possessions of leading throughout the game–even down to the final minutes. A seesaw scoring contest was the norm for most of the first half. South led 22-21 after the first quarter and 40-34 at halftime. A 16-13 third period from the Spartans lifted the hosts to a 56-47 lead after three. Yet, the Patriots were not done.

In the fourth, back-to-back three-pointers from Kyler Pedigo pulled AC-S to within six with just over four minutes left. After South extended their lead to 11, the Patriots cut the lead to eight with 1:06 left. Four Spartan free throws in the final minute were needed for South to secure the win.

When snow canceled Thursday’s season finale with Clinton County, Patriot Coach Jeremy Garrett added a Friday night game at Butler County. The game was another opportunity to tune up for Tuesday’s District 15 match up against Barren County. In the end, Butler County–one of the top teams in Region 3–edged AC-S 79-72.

The difference in the game was the play of Bear senior Ty Price. The University of Tennessee-Martin signee scored 37 points, 10bpoints ahead of his season average. Price’s 37 points included five three-point baskets among his 11 field goals. He also was 10 or 10 at the foul line.

Price’s performance was almost not enough against a Patriot team looking to close regular season play with a huge confidence-building win. AC-S did not back down against Butler County but rather stepped up to meet the challenge. Add in the fact that the Patriots faced the Bears without normal preparation time and it’s easy to say that it was a strong and positive effort.

AC-S started strong, opening a 17-11 lead after the first eight minutes. Nine first quarter points from Jackson Morris keyed AC-S’s early first half run. The Bears awoke in the second. Trailing 19-11, Butler County put together a 9-0 run to take the lead. A Chase Ross score enabled the Patriots to, for a moment, recapture the advantage. The Bears followed with back-to-back baskets in the fast-paced game. By the half, Butler County led 41-36.

The Patriots remained within striking distance throughout the third. Pedigo led the effort with 11 third quarter points to keep AC-S within eight or less points for most of the eight minutes. AC-S made nine of their 15 shots from the floor in the third, a stat that kept the Patriots within three starting the final quarter.

Butler County played well enough to win the rest of the way. With Pedigo and three-pointers from Pedigo and Robert Robledo falling, the Patriots once again remained a run away from taking the lead. As late as the 2:28 mark, the contest still was a two-possession game. Butler County made defensive stops and gradually built a 10-point lead with a minute remaining.

At the end of the night, Pedigo led AC-S with 26 points and 11 rebounds. The double-double was the third of his career. Morris finished with 22 points and seven rebounds, matching his career-high in points.

The Patriots shot 28-57 from the field for a 49.1 percent mark for the game. Butler County was 26-64 for 40.6 percent. The difference was at the line. AC-S went 11 of 15 while Butler County sank 18 of 20.

AC-S (11-17) will open the District Tournament Tuesday (February 25) against Barren County (17-12) at Barren County. A win over the Trojans moves the Patriots into Friday’s 6 p.m. championship game and into next week’s regional tournament. A loss to Barren County ends the AC-S season.