By: Mason Branham
for Carter County Times
GRAYSON – East Carter’s defense in the opening four minutes of the second half totally changed the complexion of the game last Tuesday, January 12, as East opened its season with a 57-44 win over Greenup County.
The Musketeers were leading, 19-16, after a low-scoring first half.
But the East defense quickly changed things around, forcing four Musketeer turnovers with three coming on steals. East limited Greenup County to one point, a free throw by Trenton Hannah, over the opening four and a half minutes of the third quarter.
After a basket by Trevor Cline, Connor Goodman canned a three-pointer bucket to boost East to the lead, 21-19 at the 6:39 mark of the period.
A steal by Blake Hall resulted in a Ethan Miller bucket for East and a Greenup County time out at the 6:22 mark.
When play resumed, Connor Goodman stole the ball and scored. Then Miller added a basket as the East lead grew to 27-19.
Hannah’s free throw stopped the East run, but Evan Goodman drained a three for a 30-20 East advantage.
After Wireman’s three, the only other points of the period came on a three by the Musketeers’ Boone Gibson with 48 seconds left. That cut the East lead to 32-26.
The Musketeers (1-3) were within seven, 35-28, after two free throws by Gibson with 5:51 to play.
East closed the door on Greenup County with a 12-2 run.
Both teams had a hard time getting shots to fall to start the game.. Three minutes into the contest, the game was scoreless. East led, 12-11, in the second period before the Musketeers scored eight straight points. The Musketeers scoring problems actually began in late the quarter. They led, 19-12, before East scored the final four points to leave Greenup County with a 19-16 lead at the half.
East built the lead to 18 points, 57-39. A late three by Boone Gibson and a basket by Jonah Gibson made the final margin 13.
Greenup County 7 12 7 18-44
East Carter 7 9 16 25-57
Musketeers (44)–B. Gibson 20, Sammons 8, Hewlett 2, Hannah 5, Wireman 5,J. Gibson 46.
East Carter (57)–Miller 15, E. Goodman 5, Cline 8, Hall 2, Tussey 14, C. Goodman 13.
East Carter also picked up a win in their second game of the season, against Morgan County at home, with a score of 59-37.
Contact the writer at masonbjr@yahoo.com