STEARNS —
In Tuesday’s contest against Rockcastle County the Raiders built a lead during the middle two quarters and were able to hold off a rally in the final period to beat the Rockets 70-61.
McCreary held an 18-17 advantage after one period behind sophomore Kyle Tucker’s eight points which came through two three pointers along with a single two point field goal. Senior Cody Ross also got off to a fast start scoring six of his eight points by the end of the period.
In the second McCreary began to extend the lead after Noah Duncan and Josh Gregory opened the quarter with three pointers. Gregory would end up with eight points in the period and Duncan would score again to help the Raiders to a 35-27 lead at the half time break.
Coming out of the locker room McCreary continued to expand the lead in the third. Senior Tyler Strunk came on strong inside scoring six points after going scoreless in the first half. Tucker and freshman Tyler Longmire would add three pointers and the Raiders would end the period with a 51-38 lead.
In the fourth quarter the Rockets would make a charge, pulling to within five points late in the game. McCreary however was able hold off the rally as guards Josh Gregory and Tyler Longmire combined to hit four of six free throws down the stretch to help the Raiders seal the win.
Gregory’s 20 points led the Raiders who also got 17 points out of Kyle Tucker and 12 from Tyler Strunk.
On Friday the Raiders were back on their home court but instead faced Wayne County who came into the contest with a 12th Region best 18-4 record and had beaten McCreary Central 72-41 in December.
Friday’s match up would turn out much the same with the Cardinals running away with a 91-59 win.
The Raiders were able to hang close throughout the first half with the game tied at 11-11 at the midway point of the first quarter. The Cardinals though would scored six straight to open the lead up and would end the quarter with four points in the final minute to extend a 21-17 to 25-17.
The Raiders rallied early in the second behind the nine points put up by senior Tyler Strunk after Cody Ross had hit twice from the free throw line to start the period. the 11-6 run pulled McCreary to within three points, 31-28 on Strunk’s basket with 4:58 left in the half.
Wayne County would respond though hitting a pair of threes in an 8-0 run and then adding another, thier sixth of the half, to cap off a 13-2 stretch that pushed thier lead to 44-30. The Raiders would cut the lead back to eleven, 44-33 by the half.
McCreary would get a Josh Gregory basket to start the second half but Wayne’s pressure defense forced five Raider turnovers which led to the Cardinals going on an 11-2 run that pushed thier lead out to 55-37 with 3:12 left in the third.
They would extend the lead to 64-44 by the end of the period and cruise through the fourth quarter to the 91-59 win.
Tyler Strunk poured in a career high 22 points to lead McCreary. Cody Ross and Josh Gregory added 11 each.
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Related Photos
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McCreary Central senior Austin Brown puts up a shot against Wayne County during Fridays loss to the Cards. Chris Hollis
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