Patriots Down Falcons

   The Glasgow game went away in a hurry. Seven first quarter points from junior guard Mason Shirley helped AC-S match the Scotties point for point in the first eight minutes last week. However, things changed in the second. Behind the play of Nick Sewell and Jaden Franklin, the visitors to Patriot Gym made eight of their 12 shots in the second frame. Not only did AC-S struggle to stop the hot-shooting of the Scotties, the Patriots could not find their touch. AC-S went three of 11 from the field in the quarter with only Michael Smith, and Jax Cooper scoring. By halftime, Glasgow had opened a 32-20 lead.

   A pair of Shirley baskets brought the Patriots to within eight early in the third. However, the Scotties countered, answering each run and defensive stop---a precursor to a recurring second half theme. Glasgow won the period 11-8 as the Patriots continued to struggle to find their shooting rhythm. Glasgow led 43-28 to start the final quarter.

   After Glasgow scored to push their lead to 17, Owen Stamper’s drilled a3-pointer to bring AC-S to within 14. Glasgow answered. Three minutes into the period, Smith scored inside, again trimming Glasgow’s lead to 14. Again, Glasgow pushed ahead. This time, a 7-0 Scotties run stretched the lead to 20 and all but sealed the win. 

   Shirley finished with a team-high 12 points and Stamper added 10, the only Patriots in double-figures in points. AC-S made 17 of 51 shots (33.3%) while Glasgow was 25-47 (53.2%) from the floor. The Patriots hit four 3-pointers and went four of nine at the foul line. Glasgow had two 3-pointers and was nine of 11 at the foul line. Rebounds were even at 30.

   Friday, AC-S was the team with a strong second quarter---a quarter that proved to be instrumental in the win. AC-S opened an 11-7 lead after the first period---an early lead do in part to seven quick points from Stamper. The senior continued to shine despite having to leave the game for a few minutes after a nasty-looking head-to-head collision with a Scottie player. Deemed concussion-free and go to go, Stamper returned to the court and resumed his solid night. His basket at the 2:01 mark of the second gave him 11 points for the game and staked AC-S to a 10-point lead---25-15. Later in the first half, Stamper drilled a three lifting the Patriots to a 14-point lead. A hoop from Charlie Calvert in the final seconds enabled AC-S to open a 32-16 lead at the break.

   The Falcons closed to with 13 at two points in the third but Stamper’s hot shooting ended the Monroe hopes. A 7-0 run by stamper midway through the third period gave the Patriots a 46-25 lead with 2:48 left in the period. By the start of the final frame, AC-S owned a 51-31 lead. 

   The Patriots continued to attack on the offensive end of the court. Their strategy led to trips to the foul line. Free throws from Shirley and Tyler Ford enabled the Patriots to open a 25-point lead, 63-38. However, Monroe County closed on a 15-4 run to pull to the final margin of 15.

   Stamper closed the night with 21 points on nine of 15 shooting from the floor including three long range shots. Stamper also grabbed eight rebounds. Cooper added 14 points. Charlie Calvert grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds.

    The Patriots were 25-51 from the field (49%) and 11 of 13 (84.6%) at the foul line. Monroe County was 18-55 from the floor (32.7%) and 10-16 at the foul line (62.5%). The Patriots won the boards, 37-30.

   AC-S (8-7) will travel to Westmoreland Friday night. The team will then be off for a week before a District match-up with Barren County on January 24.