By JAMES BROWN
WCLU Sports
Barren County used a fast start and a balanced scoring attack to knock off favored Clinton County, 77-49, on Tuesday night at E.A. Diddle Arena.
The Trojans opened the game on a 9-0 run and never trailed in the first round of the Boys Fourth Region Tournament. They move on to face Warren Central on Monday, March 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the semifinal round.
“They came in here tonight and just I felt like we were confident that we could do it,” Barren County head coach Warren Cunningham said in his post game interview. “I thought our guys had a really good day of preparation yesterday.”
The Trojans led 13-5 after the first quarter and stretched the margin to 29-15 by halftime. The Trojans opened the third quarter on an 11-2 run that effectively put the game away.
“Probably for the first time all year, we got a lead. And then they started pressuring, and instead of letting teams back into it with turnovers and some mistakes, I thought we really played well against the pressure,” Cunningham said. “We attacked it for layups on the other end. We made shots, we got to the free throw line, made free throws. So I thought it was just a really good complete team performance by our guys.”
The 11-2 run to open the second half included a four-point play by Kade Hardy. He pulled up for a fast break 3, and made the shot despite being hit from behind by a Bulldogs’ defender.
Weston Shelton led the Trojans with 20 points, and Cunningham said he set the tone early offensively.
“He got us going there a little bit early. And I thought our guys did a nice job of getting him the ball in the way they were pressuring us. It opened up some space for him to make some plays there and make some shots,” the coach said.
Hardy followed with 16 points, Gavin Nunn added 13 points, while Cameron Pippen finished with 12.
SCORING
Shelton, 20; Hardy, 16; Nunn, 13; Pippen, 12; Jaxson Byrd, 8; Maddox Griggs, 6; Kataviun Fryar, 2.
Key Facts
• Barren County defeated Clinton County 77-49 in the Boys Fourth Region Tournament first round.
• The Trojans opened on a 9-0 run and never trailed.
• Barren County led 13-5 after one quarter and 29-15 at halftime.
• An 11-2 run to open the second half, including a four-point play by Kade Hardy, put the game out of reach.
• Weston Shelton led Barren County with 20 points, followed by Kade Hardy with 16, Gavin Nunn with 13, and Cameron Pippen with 12.
• The win marks the second straight season Barren County has upset a favored team in the regional tournament.
• The game was played Tuesday, March 3, at E.A. Diddle Arena.
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