(by Don Meador)
The Allen County-Scottsville Patriots dropped a third consecutive game last Friday. The Greenwood Gators used a 30-14 third quarter to pull away from the Patriots on their way to an 82-58 on Senior Night at Patriot Gym.
AC-S battled Greenwood tooth-and-nail over the first 10 minutes. Baskets by Tyler Turner, Ay’Den Grainger, Kyler Pedigo kept AC-S very close early. Pedigo’s 3-pointer in the final first quarter seconds lifted the Patriots to a 16-14 lead. The teams traded scores with AC-S pulling even at 20 on a De’Antre Grainger basket with 6:44 left in the first half.
From that point forward, the tables began to turn. Three 3-point baskets in the next six minutes keyed a Greenwood charge. AC-S missing eight of their 13 shots in the frame coupled with the Gators’ play left Greenwood with a 35-29 lead at halftime.
Led by Isaiah Summers, Landen Meador, and Ethan York, the Gators (20-6) turned their six-point lead into as much as 25 late in the third. The Patriots went cold, hitting only five of their 14 shots while the Gators blistered the nets. Greenwood would hit 10 of 14 shots from the floor and seven of eight free throws to carry a 65-43 lead to the fourth. Greenwood, using mainly reserves for the final frame, won the final eight minutes to notch their 20th win of the season.
AC-S shot 40%, making 20 of their 50 shots for the game. At the line, the Patriots were 13 of 18. Greenwood was 30-53 from the game, shooting at a 56.6% clip. The gators were 11 of 20 at the line. Greenwood owned the glass, outrebounding AC-S 37-24.
Pedigo led the Patriots with 19 points, including four of the Patriots’ five 3-point baskets. Ay’Den Grainger finished with 12 points.
AC-S (11-13) has a busy final week of the regular season with contests against three of Region 4’s top teams. Monday, the Patriots host Bowling Green (17-10). The next night, AC-S travels to South Warren (13-9) before wrapping up the regular season at Patriot Gym against Clinton County (20-4) on Thursday.