The Times-Tribune
CORBIN —
By Les Dixon / Sports Editor
Scott County coach Billy Hicks came in with a game plan and his team executed it well during the Cardinals’ 68-49 win over Corbin.
“Shoot, I knew Corbin would be a tough game,” Hicks said. “They’ve got a great program there. I knew it would be tough. I was glad to be ahead by four at halftime.”
Hicks decided to double and triple team both Madison Johnson and Isaac Wilson to try and keep the Redhounds from pulling off the first round upset, and the plan worked for most of the game.
Johnson caught fire midway through the second quarter and throughout the second half to lead Corbin (27-4) with 18 points on six-of-16 shot attempts. He also hit two three-pointers, while Scott County’s tenacious defense limited Wilson to nine points on four-of-eight shooting from the floor.
“I thought we did a good job in the first half,” Corbin coach Tony Pietrowski said. “I thought in the third quarter we let it slip away. I am very proud of my kids, I thought we represented well. (They) are so hard to guard, they have so many weapons.”
After the game Johnson said he enjoyed his career at Corbin, which led to winning two district titles, two region titles and 105 wins.
“It’s nice to go back-to-back,” he said. “I just hate to see it end so soon.”
Wilson said he thought the entire team gave it their all against Scott County (28-6).
“In the end, we gave all we had,” he said. “Scott County was just the better team tonight.”
The game was tied at 33 apiece with 3:51 remaining in the third quarter when the Cardinals hit another gear and outscored the Redhounds 35-16 the remainder of the game.
“Number-wise, I thought we wore them down in the second half,” Hicks said.
The Redhounds didn’t show any case of the nerves in the first quarter and built an early 9-4 edge behind the shooting of Isaac Wilson (one three-pointer and a layup) and Matthew Taylor.
Scott County missed its first eight shots and received more bad news when Dakota Euton picked up his second foul at the 3:22 mark, but Corbin couldn’t take advantage.
The Cardinals slowly chipped away at the Redhounds’ lead, and went on a 10-2 run to close out the quarter, while building a 16-13 lead.
Euton caught fire and scored eight points during the run, which included two three-pointers with the second coming with four seconds remaining in the period.
Hicks said Euton’s three-pointer that gave his team a 16-13 advantage turned out to be crucial.
“That might have been the biggest basket of the game,” he admitted.
Scott County looked as if it were going to pull away in the second quarter after Austin Flannery and Ge-lawn Guyn each connected with three-pointers. Jackson’s score off a steal with 3:14 remaining in the half gave his team a 26-18 lead.
The Redhounds responded with a run of their own, as Madison Johnson reeled off four straight points (which included a three-pointer) to pull Corbin to within four points (26-22) going into the locker room at halftime.
Pietrowski’s squad continued to storm back to begin the third quarter and managed to take the lead on three different occasions after starting the second half with a 9-4 run, thanks to baskets by Wilson, Travis Smith (two) and Johnson. But that’s when Scott County began to take over.
The Cardinals answered with an 18-4 run, which was capped off by a three-pointer by Tanner Shotwell, which gave his team a 48-35 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Scott County continued to maintain its lead with the inside play of Euton, as the Cardinals’ lead grew to 17 points (58-41) with less than five minutes remaining.
Scott County finished the game hitting 24-of-57 shot attempts, while Corbin hit 19-of-45 from the floor. The Cardinals forced the Redhounds into 21 turnovers, while Scott County had 16.
Euton led all scorers with 21 points on seven-of-15 shooting, while Chad Jackson finished with 13.
93rd Annual PNC Bank/KHSAA Sweet 16
First Round at Rupp Arena
Scott County 68, Corbin 49
Corbin 13 9 13 14 49
Scott Co. 19 10 22 20 68
Corbin (49) - Taylor 2, Smith 6, Manns 6, Wilson 9, Johnson 18, Freeman 2, Stewart 6.
Scott Co. (68) - Euton 21, Jackson 13, Flannery 3, Guyn 12, Manning 3, Ivey 2, Relford 2, Relford 2, Shotwell 8, Schu 4.
