The Hill – Carroll County and Pulaski County went back and forth throughout the night before the visiting Cougars delivered the knockout punch in their 79-68 non – district victory Friday night.
Carroll County (6-5) was playing for the third time this week and shorthanded to boot but Head Coach Anthony Barnes is the kind of leader that believes his team can win every time they take the floor.
” I’m slap wore out and my coaches are as well,” said Barnes. ” I know the guys are you could tell.(not making excuses though, it was still winnable.”
Isaiah Easter added another 30 point performance, finishing the contest with a game high 33. The talented Senior scored from every spot possible, including drilling four of the Cavaliers six 3-pointers.
The two teams went back and forth the entire first half. Carroll County took the halftime lead at 38 – 36, leaving the team just 16 minutes away from sweeping the long week.
” Not the ending of the week we wanted, but definitely was not from lack of effort,” Barnes added. “We fought hard was down , dug back in took the lead then the coal finally run out of the engine, not making excuses, but poor decision making , late slow passes for unforced turnovers, shots short and not finishing at the rim.( we were gased ) I know they gotta be slap wore out ,on the road last night back to back game with really athletic and well coached Pulaski group that we know all too well , we play all summer long which can be a two edged sword, we left free-throws on the line as well.”
Pulaski County raced out to a 13 – 6 but the Cavaliers answered back and pulled within two at 19 -17. But the next run belonged to the home team and it left the Cavaliers with a nine point lead at 53 -45. The Cougars went for the TKO with a 15-2 run across the end of the third quarter and early fourth.
Blake Reed (14 points) and Colton Gravley (13 points ) did everything they could to support Easter and cover for the ill, Hayden Jackson as the Junior missed his second straight game. The effort allowed the Cavaliers to pull within 62-59 but that is when the well oiled machine sputtered down the stretch.
” All that combined was just way too much. Long week with sickness and playing, I thought early in the week I would be 2-1 this week with all considering, ” noted Barnes. We have a much needed 3 day back.”
Pulaski County Junior Varsity opened the twin bill with a 62 – 44 victory over Ryan Phillips and his squad.
Both Cavalier teams are slated to return to action 🎬 on Tuesday evening versus Floyd County.
Pulaski County 19 17 17. 26 – 79
Carroll County. 17 21 15 15 – 68
Cavaliers ( 68 ) – Easter 33, Reed 14, Gravley 13, Motley 4, Lark 2, Bunn 2, Reavis.
3-pointers : Easter 4, Reed, Gravley.
On the Girls 👧 side, Carroll County managed a split as the Junior Varsity won 56 – 33 and the Varsity couldn’t dig out of an early hole, falling 63 40.
The hope is to expand on the coverage from Dublin as the information becomes available.
A.S.P.N on The Hill 