Mason Shirley matched his season-high with 23 points, Michael Smith added 11 points, and Jax Cooper contributed nine points to help the Allen County-Scottsville Patriots down the Westmoreland Eagles 66-38 Friday, January 17, at Westmoreland.

   The Patriots never trailed in the contest after opening an early 4-0 lead following buckets from Shirley and Owen Stamper. Shirley would continuing his strong start, adding nine additional points in the quarter along with dishing out on scoring plays by Smith and Tyler Ford. AC-S sank eight of their first 13 shots and was a perfect five-for-five at the foul line to open a 21-7 lead by the start of the second quarter.

   AC-S and Westmoreland traded baskets for most of the second. Put back baskets from Shirley and Smith as well as 3-point hoops from Stamper and Charlie Calvert enabled AC-S to open a 31-13 lead by the 4”54 point of the period. Smith scored AC-S’s final five points of the frame to give his team a 36-20 lead at the break.

   The Patriots closed the door with a 17-10 third period, thanks in part to the play of Cooper. After the Eagles pulled to within 13, a Shirley jumper in the lane and Cooper’s three consecutive buckets on trips down the floor highlighted an 8-0 Patriot run, giving the visitors a 48-27 lead with 3:04 left in the third. Shirley added a basket and Cooper drilled a 3-pointer to help AC-S take a 53-30 lead to the final eight minutes.

   Four field goals---including a pair of buckets from Jake Bow and a paint basket by Caleb Akin---highlighted the final frame. The Eagles’ shooting woes continued as the Patriots won the frame 13-8 to secure their ninth win of the season.

   Shirley’s 23-point night matched his point total from the December 13 game against Cumberland County. Shirley was 10-17 from the floor and made three of four foul shots. The junior guard also grabbed a team-high and dished out seven assists. Smith was four of seven from the floor and three-for-three at the line. Smith along with Calvert had four rebounds.

   The Patriots finished the game shooting 56.5% (26-46) from the field---matching their best shooting game since the Greenwood game in December. AC-S was four of 10 from 3-point range---the 74th time in the last 75 games that AC-S teams had sank at least one 3-pointer in a game. At the line, the Patriots made 10 of 12 free throws. Westmoreland (3-17) was 11-39 from the floor (28.2%) and 12 of 17 (70.6%) at the foul line. The glass belonged to the Patriots, 31-22.

   AC-S (9-8,1-2) will return to action on Friday, January 24, in a District 15 game at Barren County (9-6,2-1).