LCHS Basketball

By Jason Fite/Sports writer

Photos/Pete Noblin

The Lewis County High School Lady Panthers and Panthers opened up their 2022-23 basketball schedule at home on Tuesday, November 15th as they hosted the Frank Hughes High School Lady Lions and Lions of Clifton.

The Lady Panthers and Lady Lions began play for the evening at 6:00 on Tuesday. Five different Lady panthers would score in the opening quarter, but Lewis County would trail Frank Hughes 11-9. The Lady Panthers would struggle to find their offense in the second quarter and the visiting Lady Lions would add to their total and build a 20-14 lead at halftime. The Lady Panther defense would come alive in the second half, and the teams would play an even third quarter 7-7 as the Lady Lion lead remained six points at 27-21 as play moved into the final eight minutes of regulation. Blayr Clayton would have four of the teams twelve points in the fourth quarter, and the Lady Panther defense would hold Frank Hughes to their lowest point quarter of the night while taking the lead late and holding on for the 34-33 win to open the season. Kerrigan Reeves ended the night with 10 points, Blayr Clayton added 9, Desirae Warman and Ruth Jennings 4 each, Keira Halbrooks, Klayr Shepherd, and Jayden Moore 2 points each, and Emery Norris 1 point.

The Panthers and Lions took the floor in the second game of the evening. The Lions would jump out in front of the Panthers early behind great shooting including four three-point baskets in the first eight minutes and claimed a 23-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter saw the Panther offense pick up a little bit, led by 5 points from Bryson Clayburn, but the Lions continued to build on their lead and went into the halftime break up 45-25. The Panther defense came out in the second half improved, limiting the visitors to only 13 third quarter points and Clayburn dropped 9 of the teams 14 as the Lions held a 58-39 lead moving into the fourth quarter. Lewis County would win the fourth quarter 11-8 but fell at home 66-50. Bryson Clayburn led the Panthers with 19 points, Wyatt Bosheers added 12, Cade Lomax 7, Jaxon Fite 5, Evan Mathis 3, and Ryan Tanner and Julian Jones each had 2.

----------------

The Lewis County High School Lady Panthers and Panthers hosted the Decatur County-Riverside Lady panthers and Panthers on Thursday, November 17th for varsity basketball action.

The Lady Panthers, coming off the season opening win at home against Frank Hughes on Tuesday night, saw the Riverside defensive intensity from the tip on Thursday night. The Riverside pressure and hot shooting in the opening eight minutes of play put the Lady panthers deep in a 36-4 hole moving into the second quarter. While the pace of the game slowed in the second, the Lady panthers continued to struggle to start their offense and Riverside continued to build on an already huge lead, and Riverside took a 54-8 lead at halftime. Lewis County was never able to find their offensive game, even after the half, as Riverside outscored the Lady Panthers 21-7 in the third quarter, leading to a running clock for the entire fourth period. Lewis County would be held scoreless over the final eight minutes and fell at home 81-15. Blayr Clayton had 7 points in the loss, Klayr Shepherd 5 points, Kerrigan Reeves 2 points, and Aryn Shepherd 1 point.

The boys' matchup followed the girls' game, and the matchup was tight from the tipoff. Six different Panthers scored in a fast-paced opening quarter that saw Riverside take an 18-15 lead at the end of the first. Wyatt Bosheers would knock down three three-point shots in the second quarter, but the visitors would add to their lead and go into the half up 36-28. Cade Lomax would lead the Panther charge in the third quarter as Lewis County fought to cut into the Riverside lead, scoring 10 of Lewis County's 16 in the period and Riverside clung to a 50-44 lead as the game moved to the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter was an up and down, running period for both teams. Riverside would extend their lead and Lewis County would battle back time and again, led by Bryson Clayburn's 14 in the period. As the Panthers were forced to foul late, 3 Lewis County players would foul out in the final 4 minutes of action, and the Panthers would drop the game 73-66. Bryson Clayburn was high point man for Lewis County with 22 points, Cade Lomax added 16, Wyatt Bosheers 13, Kyle Holcomb and Julian Jones 5 each, Jaxon Fite 4, and Ryan Tanner 2.