George Rogers Clark and Campbell County have played within the second week of the season every year for the past seven seasons. The Cards came back from 11 down in the third quarter to win 63-60 – their 52nd straight win over 10th Region opponents.

Both teams lost a significant amount of production from last year, including both programs’ all-time leading scorers, Jerone Morton and Aydan Hamilton. However, these tradition-rich programs showed they are still the big dogs in the 10th Region.

Campbell County started by going up 10-2 three minutes into the game prompting a Campbell County timeout.

After the timeout, Clark went on a 13-3 run to finish the first quarter with a 15-13 lead.

Campbell County head into halftime leading 29-25.

Campbell County came out of the locker room and extended their lead to the largest of the night. They led 45-34 at 2:58 in the third.

However, the Cardinals would rally back and and finished the quarter on a 9-2 run to make it 47-43 Camels with eight minutes left to play. Both teams had 18 points in the third quarter. Malachi Ashford had 10 points in the third after having only 5 in the first half.

George Rogers Clark took their first lead since the second quarter with Morrison’s score inside.

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Campbell County, down by 1 with less than 30 seconds to play, had the ball under their basketball but turned it over.

George Rogers Clark scored two more free throws to win 63-60.

Coaches’s Comments:

Josh Cook – GRC

Q: You’ve played Campbell County early in the year for the past seven seasons. Why do you all play this game early in the year and how does it help you?

I think it’s a great. It’s a great test early. Campbell County is always well-coached. They’re a great program with a lot tradition, and it’s good for us to see early on where we are.

Q: You are two of the top programs in the region but had a lot of turnover from last year. How do you prepare the newer guys for these big games?

You just gotta believe in them. They’re gonna make mistakes. The efforts there, you know? We played probably 11 guys or something like that, and the effort’s there from everybody. In games like this you’ll find some leaders to step into those moments and that helps these other guys feel more comfortable and gives them a chance to make the right plays.

Q: What made you fall behind early in the third quarter?

We were in foul trouble for one and just gambling on defense. When we executed, we got great shots. It’s just a lot of energy in here and it’s overall a young basketball team. We’re still trying to find a rhythm and flow and playing a smart team at Campbell County, you have to pick your times to control the tempo when you can. Once we did that towards the end, we were able to get into a rhythm and get a win.

Q: What is your outlook moving forward?

I think they’re gonna get better with experience, and you’ve got to play some games like this, tough environments that get their emotions high. Then they have to figure it out. Then they have to make the right play, which grows confidence. But you know, just continue to work at it.

Brent Sowder – Campbell County

Q: You’ve played GRC early in the year for the past seven seasons. Why do you all play this game early in the year and how does it help you?

Playing a team like GRC, you get a yardstick of where you’re at right away. They’re such a good program. Coach Cook does such a great job, and we find out right away where we stack up. I think they learn a lot about themselves and we learn a lot about ourselves.

Q: What player stood out to you on your team tonight?

It’s such a team effort. These guys are such a team. I thought Nate Smith took over in spots and Garyn Jackson. Connor (Weinel)’s a beast down low. I thought Cole (Johnson) did a great job on Reshaun Hampton, who’s such a good player. Zach Franzen hit big shot. This year, it’s gonna be a collective effort and that’s what I love about these guys.

Q: You got up to big lead in the third quarter, what was your team doing to play well?

We were protecting the basketball, we weren’t turning it over when they heated us up. And then we hit some big shots and towards the end those shots unfortunately didn’t go in. Clark County is used to playing in the big moments, and they’re going to get right back in it.

Q: What led to GRC’s comeback?

They’re just battle tested. I know they got a bunch of new guys but it’s a lot like us, they have a high standard, and they live up to it.

Q: You are two of the top programs in the region but had a lot of turnover from last year. How do you prepare the newer guys for these big games?

We try to make practice tough. We try to really put them in situations where things are difficult, and really test them in practice.

Q: What are your expectations moving forward?

Just improvement. There’s gonna be ups and downs and all those things, but we just got to keep getting better. That’s all it is. It’s all preseason til the postseason.

Scoring:

George Rogers Clark (63) – Ashford 22, Gay 15, Morrison 13, Gaines 6, Hampton 5, Craig 1, Taylor 1.

Campbell County (60) – Smith 13, Weinel 13, Jackson 10, Franzen 10, Fancher 10, Johnson 4.