Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Aivry Griffin Remembered at Rock Port Game; Aydan Gladstone’s Shot Snaps Losing Streak

Worth County’s boys snapped a two game losing streak as Aydan Gladstone’s shot in the closing seconds gave the Tigers a 49-48 win over Rock Port. During the halftime of the game, the Rock Port cheerleaders gave cards to the Worth County cheerleaders in memory of Aivry Griffin. They wore special shirts and ribbons in her memory.

Worth County started off well as Aydan Gladstone hit Jackson Smith backdoor, Gladstone scored off a drive, and Gladstone scored again to make it 6-2. Aiden Burke cut it to 6-4, but Jackson Runde scored off a steal and cleaned up on a miss in transition to make it 10-4. 

But Rock Port has one of the top point guards in the area in Holden Farmer, a 6’3” guard who can handle the ball and break down defenses, and they began chipping away, getting the deficit down to 20-18 on Farmer’s 3-pointer before Tyler New scored off a drive and Jackson Runde scored off a steal to make it 24-18.

But some defensive lapses let Rock Port right back into the game, and Bannack Skillen got behind the Tiger defense and was all alone for a 3-pointer than put them up 27-24 before Gladstone’s free throws cut it to 27-26 at the half.

Tyler New hit a 3-pointer for the Tigers to start the third quarter to put them back in front 29-27, but Farmer threatened to take over, scoring off a drive, knocking down a guarded shot from the high post, and hitting a guarded three. Aiden Burke scored off a steal and Rock Port took a 36-29 lead at the 2:06 mark of the third quarter.

But with Farmer on the bench with three fouls, Worth County started coming back as Jackson Runde scored off a drive, Aydan Gladstone got a steal, and Tyler New scored off a Gladstone steal to cut Worth County’s deficit down to 36-35 after three.

Grant Cameron put the Tigers in front early in the fourth with a 3-pointer to make it 40-38, but then a defensive lapse by the Tigers sparked Rock Port and Malachi Skillen tied it at 40 again. Bannack Skillen added another basket to put Rock Port in front 42-40.

Aiden Burke got behind the Tiger defense to push Rock Port’s lead to three with 1:45 left at 46-43, but Tyler New’s drive cut it back down to 46-45, and Worth County put on a full court press and forced a five seconds call. But then Burke stole the ball and converted with 57 seconds left to make it three again at 48-45.

Grant Cameron missed a 3-pointer that would have tied it and fouled Burke on the rebound, but Burke missed a 1-1 that would have made it two possessions and Worth County got another chance. With 27 seconds left, Aydan Gladstone scored off a drive to cut it to 48-47. Jackson Runde then stole the ensuing inbounds pass, missed the wide open layup, but stuck with the play and tied up Holden Farmer for the rebound. Farmer fell to the floor trying to yank the ball away from Runde and was called for traveling, giving Worth County another chance.

This time, Aydan Gladstone drove down the middle of the lane and scored to make it 49-48 with 10 seconds left. Rock Port rushed it up the floor, and Farmer missed a contested look from the right side and Jackson Runde got the defensive board with 3.4 seconds left. 

Rock Port still had fouls to give, and they picked up their fourth and fifth fouls in quick succession, leaving 1.3 seconds left.

But with 1.3 seconds left, Worth County threw the inbounds pass away, giving Rock Port another chance. Everyone knew where the ball was going to, and Rock Port inbounded it to Holden Farmer with a chance to win the game from 8 feet out. But Jackson Runde contested it heavily, and the shot was short, handing the Tigers the win.

Aydan Gladstone had 18 for the Tigers. Tyler New had 13, Jackson Runde 11, Grant Cameron 5, and Jackson Smith 2.

Jackson Runde had 14 boards to complete the double double. Jackson Smith had 8, Aydan Gladstone 5, Grant Cameron 4, Tyler New 2, and Tanner Ridge 1.

Tyler New had 6 assists. Aydan Gladstone and Jackson Smith had 3 each, and Jackson Runde 2.

Jackson Smith and Jackson Runde had 3 tips. Tyler New had 2. Aydan Gladstone had 5 steals. Jackson Runde had 4, and Tyler New had 3.


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