In a season filled with not only lots of wins but also many impressive victories, the Logan County Cougars added another in both categories Tuesday by edging visiting Barren County 50-49.
Not only is Barren County one of the best teams in the Fourth Region, but the Cougars were playing for the third straight game without their second leading scorer and rebounder, the injured Rooster Woodard. The leader in both categories before the injury, Woodard has seen senior Jose Nazario take up the slack to make up for Rooster’s absence.
After totaling 24 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Franklin last Friday, Nazario totaled 18 and 12 in the nail-biting squeaker over the Trojans. Against F-S he hit all 11 of his two-points shots. In this latest win, he went 8 of 14 from that range.
Point guard Brady Griggs had given the Cougars a 47-42 lead, but Barren County pulled to within one on a pair of free throws by Ryan Shirley.
Nazario came through again with a three-point play to put Logan ahead 50-46 with 1:44 remaining. That wasn’t a safe cushion, though, since the Trojans’ Will Bandy hit a 3-pointer with 1:30 left.
Coach John Tinsley’s defense made that 50-49 score hold up for the final 90 seconds with no more points being scored.
Nazario got balanced help with Jay Hardison scoring 14 and getting 5 rebounds while Dalton Thompson 13 points and 7 rebounds. Center Nathaniel Vick made a huge save late in the game. Another post player, Dylan Basham, had 6 rebounds and 4 points.
Bandy and Aiden Nyekan each had 14 points for Barren. Bandy had 11 rebounds, Nyekan 7 and Jacob Shaw 6.
The win was the 13th in a row for the 17-3 Cougars, who are 9-0 in the Fourth Region. Barren County fell to 14-7. The loss ended their seven-game win streak.
Logan County, which is in the drivers’ seat in the 13th District at 4-0, will play at Russellville (6-11, 0-4) Friday at RHS.