Published: January 07, 2009 10:57 am      

Cards sweep Tigers

South Middle takes three from Barbourville

Blake Sanders scored 26 points as the South Middle eighth-graders downed visiting Barbourville, 69-25.

The sixth-grade and seventh-grade were also victorious to complete the sweep.

Sanders was red-hot in the first quarter, scoring 18 of South Middle’s 27 points, including three three-pointers, as the Cards raced out to a 27-6 lead after one and never looked back. South opened the game on a 22-0 run before Barbourville scored its first basket.

The lead grew to 35-12 at the half, even though South could manage only eight second-quarter points.

The Cards opened the third quarter with a 12-0 run, which saw Austin Schaser score four points, while Matt Slavey added a three. Schaser, who finished with 13, scored eight of those in the third quarter. Sanders also drained two more treys as the lead was 61-14 going into the fourth quarter.

A David Byrd three made it 67-19 before Barbourville ended the game with a 9-2 run, but it wasn’t nearly enough, as South Middle rolled, 69-25.

South Middle 51, Barbourville 36 (7th)

The seventh-grade overcame a 17-14 halftime deficit to down Barbourville, 51-36.

The Cards used a 22-10 third quarter to turn a three-point deficit into a nine-point lead, 36-27, going into the fourth quarter.

Trevor Grubb kept South Middle close in the first half, scoring seven of his 10 points. Logan Helton led the Cards with 12, while Brennan Miller added 11.

Miller drained two threes in the third quarter, the first one tied the game at 19-19, while the second came at the 4:01 mark to give South a 24-20 lead.

Jacob Hale followed with a three of his own, and Andrew Johnson hit a three at the 1:31 mark to make it 34-22. J. Bargo scored the last five points of the quarter to pull Barbourville to within nine, 36-27.

A Grubb three pushed the lead to 45-31 with 2:17 remaining, and South held on for the 51-36 win.

South Middle 70, Barbourville 12 (6th)

A 22-1 first quarter was all South needed as the Cards cruised to the 70-12 win in sixth-grade action.

The lead grew to 40-10 at the half, and 57-10 after three.

Tanner Bell led South with 11 points, as every Cardinal in the score book scored.

The Cards traveled to take on Williamsburg last night, and will host Knox Central on Thursday.

Denis House can be reached at sports@sentinel-echo.com.



South Middle 70, Barbourville 12 (6th)

Barbourville (12)—Robinson 5, King 2, Perry 2, Bargo 3.

South Middle (70)—Allen 5, Bell 11, Hayes 6, Neal 8, Gaines 7, Miller 9, J. McFarland 3, S. McFarland 2, Quinn 4, Royster 6, Holcomb 6, Johnson 2.



South Middle 51, Barbourville 36

Barbourville (36)—Phipps 7, Moore 7, Rodriquez 2, Mills 20.

South Middle (51)—Miller 11, Grubb 10, J. Helton 6, Hale 5, L. Helton 12, Johnson 3, Mullins 4.



South Middle 69, Barbourville 25

Barbourville (25)—Mills 1, Strong 2, Mills 8, Moore 6, Phipps 8.

South Middle (69)—Sanders 26, Rader 7, Slavey 3, Abner 1, Schaser 13, Sears 4, Byrd 6, Mitchell 2, Pennington 5, Hampton 2.