If it wasn’t for tough luck the Chillicothe Cavaliers would have no luck this season. The Cavs went to Fayette County Thursday without 6’ 8” Donovan Baker and sub Tre King due to more illness.
One of your best players Max Lee has three fouls in the first quarter and the Blue Lions go on a 14-0 run early in the second quarter.
Lee, playing in foul trouble reentered and scored 10 second period points and Carson Francis, filling in for Baker knocked down six to get the Cavs to within 28-23 at halftime.
Washington, led by their big man Tanner Lemaster, answered and the Blue Lions led by double figures 43-32 after three quarters.
The Cavs got it going, and after 1 of 10 threes, found the range. Mike Miller, Mason Siberell, and Jaiden Cain combined for 4 three pointers and Lee hit two buckets and the Cavaliers came all the way back to tie the game at 51-51.
The final moments were tight, as WCH ran off 25 seconds with a one point lead. After the Cavs were able to force a 1 plus one, freshman John Wall missed but WCH got the rebound. Forced to foul again, Wall hit two free throws to give the Lions a 56-53 lead with 11 seconds left.
Chillicothe had Barnes drive and dish out to Cain. Cain hit the tying three but Barnes was whistled on the line. With two seconds on the clock it was Blue Lion ball and probably game over..Not! The Cavs Cain stole the in bounds pass and turned for a long three at the buzzer. The Blue Lions ran into Cain and created three foul shots that could send the game to overtime.
Cain, standing on the floor all by himself, swished the first two, but the tying third one bounced off the rim and WCH celebrated their second win ( both against Chillicothe) 56-55.
Lemaster had 19 to lead the Blue Lions. Karson Runk added 14 while Micah Claggett notched 8 for the winners .
Miller hit for 16, Lee had 15 and Cain scored 8 , all in the fourth quarter, for Chillicothe. The Cavs and WCH were both just above 40% shooting on the night.
The Blue Lions survived 19 turnovers while the Cavs committed 14 miscues.
Chillicothe (1-8, 0-6) returns to play Saturday at Jackson, in a girls/ boys all day event. The boys game can be heard on WBEX with an approximate 6:00 pm tip off.