Convincing a Russellville fan that the Logan County Cougars have won only five games this season is not easy, considering how well the Cougars have played in beating their Panthers twice. They saw it happen again Friday night as Coach Lonnie Mason’s team outscored RHS 76-64.
With the win, the Cougars clinched the top seed in the upcoming 13th District Tournament, which will be played at LCHS. Logan is 4-2 in district action, having swept the Panthers and splitting with Todd Central and Franklin-Simpson. It’s not clear who they will play first in the tournament, nor does it really matter in this incredibly balanced district, witnessed again Saturday by Todd Central’s beating Franklin by a point.
The Clash of the Cats was close most of the way. In fact, Russellville led 60-58 on Barrett Croslin’s crossover move with 2:02 left in the game. Then came a seven-point trip downcourt for the Cougars that changed the complexion of the game.
That fatal blow for the Panthers came when Cougar center Taylor Blakemore hit a tying basket, and a foul was called on the Panthers. Croslin wasn’t happy with the call and was whistled for a technical foul. Landon Stratton hit both free throws resulting from the tech. Keeping possession as a result of the tech, Logan hit a field goal to make it 65-60, just four seconds after the Panthers had taken their last lead.
Christian Naylor hit a free throw for the Panthers, but Stratton—who was a classmate of Naylor and Croslin four years ago at Russellville Middle School—put together a 3-point play to up the lead to 68-61 with 1:18. Cougar senior J.R. Morrow made a steal and got the ball to Stratton for a goal with 34.8 seconds. The lead had grown to nine. After that came a pair of successful free throws each for Ben Wright and Tucker Baldwin, and the game was put away at 74-61 with 21.5 seconds remaining.
Naylor hit a 3-pointer from 25 feet, but it was too late to make a difference.
Another technical foul had come early in the game. The officials kept having to make decisions whether a rash of collisions were caused by charging or blocking. Late in the first quarter, Coach Todd took exception to one official overruling another who had called a charge on a Cougar, only for the ball to be handed back to the Cougars. Coach Todd was assessed a technical foul and two long-time Russellville fans were ejected for expressing their opinions.
In the midst of all that, the Cougars scored only three of a possible nine points, those coming on one free throw by Morrow and two of four by Wright. Still the lead had grown to 25-14. The Panthers came back with two quick goals by Lee McMurry and one by Naylor on a double clutch move.
Logan regained control with Wright hitting two free throws following Pedro Rivera’s third foul with 2:37 left in the half. Wright then got the ball back when he drew a charge from Jason Mitchell. Clint Knight hit a 3-pointer for the Cougars, but Croslin responded with a trey of his own. Logan led 35-28 at the half.
Micah Naylor and McMurry hit shots early in the third quarter, Croslin popped in another 3-pointer, and Coco Darden drew a charge on Cougar point guard Garrison Rosser. Micah Naylor hit another shot, Darden canned two free throws, and Darden scored after he made a steal to give the Panthers their first lead since 7-5 at 41-38. Stratton put a finger roll in the basket at the buzzer to make the RHS lead 46-44 entering the final period.
The Cougars regained the lead on a pair of free throws each by Baldwin and Wright, but Mitchell tied it with a 3-pointer at 3:23. Croslin’s shot that gave the Panthers their last lead came after Micah Naylor drew a charge from Stratton.
Free throws made a huge difference in the game. Logan was 31 of 47 at the line and RHS 4 of 11. Wright was 15 of 20 in free throw shooting himself.
One reason the Panthers weren’t getting to shoot foul shot is that they were shooting 3-pointers instead of taking the ball to the basket. RHS attempted 30 shots from long range, hitting 8 for 26.7 percent. Croslin hit four of them with Christian Naylor and Mitchell adding two each. Logan tried only four 3-pointers, with Knight hitting one.
Despite Logan having a decided height advantage, the teams each had 39 rebounds. Much of that contributed to Russellville’s quickness edge. It seemed that the Panthers got to every loose ball. Blakemore had 14 boards and Wright 12 for the Cougars with Stratton pulling down 6 from the guard slot. McMurry led Russellville with 8 rebounds while Croslin and Rivera each had 6 and Micah Naylor 5.
Darden had 4 assists with Christian Naylor and Croslin each getting 3. Baldwin and Stratton were credited with 3 assists each and Morrow 2. Croslin had 4 steals and McMurry 3. Morrow managed 2 of Logan’s 3 steals with Knight getting the other.
Wright was the game’s leading scorer with 31 points. Stratton scored 18 and Blakemore 12. Croslin led the Panthers with 16 points while Christian Naylor totaled 15 and McMurry 10.
After going almost a decade without beating the Panthers, Logan County has now won five of the last nine meetings of the crosstown rivals.
While Logan’s district seeding is secured, the other three teams places and opponents are uncertain. Depending on who wins Friday’s Todd Central at Russellville game, the Panthers can be seeded second or third, Franklin third or fourth, and Todd Central second, third or fourth.
Score by quarters: 1) LCHS 21-11, 2) 35-28, 3) RHS 46-44, Final) Logan County 76, Russellville 64
LCHS (76) Ben Wright 31, Landon Stratton 18, Taylor Blakemore 12, Tucker Baldwin 6, Clint Wright 5, J.R. Morrow 4, Garrison Rosser, Kaleb Coursey
RHS (64) Barrett Croslin 16, Christian Naylor 15, Lee McMurry 10, Micah Naylor 6, Pedro Rivera 6, Jason Mitchell 6, Coco Darden 4 Jaylyn McMurry 1, Ricky Bellamy, Tremon Morris