Warriors battle past Cumberland for road win

Featured Photo Caption: Fred Thomas drives hard to the rim against the Cumberland defense. Thomas finished with seven points and six rebounds in the road victory. —photo by Terri Cox

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By Terri Cox

The Casey-Westfield Warriors traveled to Cumberland to face the Pirates for the second time this young season, earning a gritty 44-39 victory. The Junior Varsity team also picked up a win, defeating Cumberland 33-27.

Varsity Action
Cumberland opened the game with five straight points before a bucket by Leighton Jones got the Warriors on the board. A three-pointer by Jackson High, assisted by Nolan Clement, tied the game at 5-5. After trading baskets, a three by Jones gave CW its first lead at 10-7.

Clement secured a steal and found Jones down court for a layup to make it 12-7. The Pirates responded with consecutive baskets to cut the gap to one, but a free throw by High gave CW a 13-11 edge at the end of the first quarter.

Offense was scarce in the second quarter, with the teams combining for just 13 points. Cumberland briefly tied the game at 15-15, but a three by High put the Warriors back on top. Jack Julius added two free throws, giving CW a 20-17 lead at halftime.

Foul trouble plagued the Warriors early in the third quarter, but Cumberland failed to capitalize. A basket by Fred Thomas extended the lead to 22-17. High then recorded a steal and found Jones for a layup. Minutes later, Jones converted off a Clement steal to push the lead to 26-17. Despite a short run by the Pirates, Julius hit a jumper to keep the lead at seven. The teams traded threes to end the quarter, with CW leading 33-25.

Cumberland refused to go quietly in the fourth, scoring four unanswered points to cut the lead to 33-29. Julius, after having his shot blocked, recovered the loose ball and scored to push the lead back to six. The Pirates managed to cut the deficit to four points with 10 seconds remaining, but Daryn Hupp calmly sank two free throws to seal the 44-39 win.

Leighton Jones led the Purple and Gold with 20 points, the only Warrior in double figures. Jack Julius added eight points, while Fred Thomas and Jackson High scored seven each.

Junior Varsity Action
The young Warriors started strong and held off a scrappy Pirates squad for a 33-27 road win.

CW posted 14 points in the first quarter to Cumberland’s eight, setting the tone for the game. Leading 22-15 at halftime, the Warriors navigated a low-scoring second half to secure the victory.

Sophomore Landon Justice turned in his second consecutive double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Will Moore added seven points, three rebounds, and three blocks.

Game Summary

Score by Quarters

Individual Statistics

• SCORING: Jones 20, Julius 8, Thomas 7, High 7, Hupp 2.

• REBOUNDING: Julius 6, Clement 6, Thomas 6, High 6, Jones 2, Moore 1, Justice 1.

• STEALS: Clement 4, High 2, Julius 1, Hupp 1.