Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Gavin Humphrey Takes Over Second Half to Lift Panthers

Gavin Humphrey had a big second half to lift Pattonsburg to a 43-39 win over Worth County Tuesday, February 4th. He had been battling illness for the Panthers and showed some rust in the first half but came back in a big way in the second half to lift his team. Pattonsburg has only four wins for the season, but two of them have come against the Tigers.

Worth County had every reason to think they had turned the corner following their win over Rock Port. But then they fell flat against Nodaway Valley, as Caleb New suffered another setback and didn't play much against the Thunder as they rolled to a win. They got much of their team back Tuesday, but Hayden Sanders saw limited action (Achilles) in the game and shut it down midway through the third quarter. Caleb New didn't start, struggled to find his range for much of the game, but finally found his rhythm in the second half and played his best game since coming back with a 14-point night. 

The Tigers took an early lead as Cannon Fletcher had a hot hand early and Hayden Sanders was fouled on a three-point shot and made all three of his tries to put them up 9-4. But Gavin Humphrey cut inside and scored and Drake Sperry got loose in transition to cut it to 9-8. Pattonsburg continued to hang around for the remainder of the first quarter, trailing 12-10 after one before Karson Briner got a putback and Cole Ruby scored off a Briner steal to make it 16-10. 

But despite a 3-pointer from Caleb New, the Panthers clawed away behind points from Gavin Humphrey, Drake Sperry, and Brandon health to cut their deficit to 19-16 at the half.

Gavin Humphrey took over the second half starting with a steal and drive to cut it to 19-18. Drake Sperry then got a steal and aired it out to Gavin to put the Panthers in front for the first time at 20-19. The teams traded leads for the next few minutes, but then Gavin Humphrey went backdoor and Drake Sperry threw him a high-low pass. Humphrey drew Karson Briner's third foul and made one of two, and then Drake Sperry went coast to coast and Brandon Heath hit a 3-pointer to make it 30-23.

Caleb New grabbed an offensive board and drew a foul, hitting both free throws to cut it to five. Drake Sperry hit a 3-pointer, only for Caleb New to hit a guarded NBA 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut it to 33-28 after three.

Cole Ruby hit a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter to cut it to 33-31, but Gavin Humphrey took over again, scoring off a drive. Brandon Heath added a free throw and then Humphrey jumped a pass and converted to make it 38-31. Ruby inbounded a pass to Caleb New at the top of the key to make it 38-34, but Gavin Humphrey drove and scored to make it 40-34 with 4:57 left in the game.

Worth County went into its full court press and 1-3-1 trap and Cole Ruby got a putback to cut it to 40-36 with 3:07 left. But then Worth County, on consecutive plays, got a steal off their trap, only to miss a contested layup on the other end that would have cut it to two.

The Tigers had to start fouling and Gavin Humphrey missed two free throws. But after Caleb New missed a 3-pointer, Humphrey hit two free throws with 31 seconds left to make it 42-36. Caleb New countered with a 3-pointer after Cole Ruby kept a possession alive with an offensive board and Cannon Fletcher got him the ball with 10 seconds left, but Brandon Heath made a free throw with 9 seconds left to make it 43-39. Worth County got it to Caleb New, who tried to draw a four-point play, but his shot went astray and Collin Mason got the defensive board to clinch it.

Caleb New had 14 points for the Tigers. Cole Ruby had 10, Karson Briner and Cannon Fletcher 6, and Hayden Sanders 3.

Gavin Humphrey had 22 points, 18 in the second half. Drake Sperry had 8, Brandon Heath 7, and Reagan Coin and Duke Hoover 3.


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