By RAY SCHAEFER / For The Independent
VANCEBURG — Lewis County coach Joe Hampton didn’t mind waiting three days to host visiting Russell.
Especially since his Lions won. Junior Koty Riley’s 22 points and senior Blake Kilgore’s season-high 21 led Monday’s 70-65 overtime win.
The win also created a three-way tie atop the 63rd District. Lewis County, Greenup County and Russell all stand at 4-2.
What Hampton may have liked even more was evidence that Riley is recovering from a separated right shoulder.
“He seems pretty much back to normal,” Hampton said. “He’ll take a hit or two that stings him a little bit, but nothing’s knocked him out. I think he’s well on the road to recovery.
Last night was Riley’s third start and sixth game altogether, and he said he’s almost at full strength.
“Every day it gets better,” Riley said. “…I’m about 95 percent. I’ve got full range (of motion), but it’s still tender in places. Overall, it’s OK.
The game was originally set for last Friday, but those who packed the old Lewis County High School gym (the Lions usually play at the middle school gym next door) saw a contest that had five lead changes and two ties in the second half and overtime. They watched Lewis County’s Kurt Cropper and Justin McCann drain 3-pointers in the final 17 seconds.
Russell coach Merle Kidwell, meanwhile, watched his team blow a 55-50 lead with 40 seconds left in regulation.
“We gave them opportunities we shouldn’t have,” Kidwell said. “We missed two or three defensive assignments, but give Lewis County credit. McCann and their other guys hit some big shots.”
The left-handed Riley didn’t look like he favored his right side. His six first-quarter points included a 15-foot jumper from the left wing, an 8-footer and two free throws.
Russell, meanwhile , struggled. Lewis County (9-14) led by just 12-7 after eight minutes, but the Red Devils didn’t score the final 3:23.
Kilgore’s two 3-pointers in 76 seconds into the second quarter extended Lewis County’s lead to 18-7, and the Lions needed every point — Russell’s Justin Davidson scored six points and Casey Stapleton added four points, while Lewis County scored none for nearly three minutes.
Russell senior Tanner Alexander is perhaps better known for running cross country and track (he’s narrowed his college choices to Georgetown College and walking on at Kentucky). Last night, however, his nine points in the third quarter kept the Red Devils close at 32-31.
Alexander led Russell with 13 points, Kirby Whittaker scored 12, and Austin Hunt added 11.
The Red Devils (8-14) took their 55-50 lead in the last minute of regulation because they hit nine of 10 free throws.
It wasn’t enough because McCann’s 3-pointer from the right corner with 17 seconds left and Cropper’s bomb from the top of the key with three ticks remaining – a shot he took thanks to one of Kilgore’s six assists — tied the game.
“Cropper was wide open,” Kidwell said. “We were in man-to-man, we weren’t supposed to leave our man. That happens in high school.”
Two Kilgore assists set Riley and Jared Pruitt for field goals that put Lewis County ahead to stay at 63-60.
“Coach (Hampton) told me to try to get to the rim, and I did,” Kilgore said of Pruitt’s basket. “Jared just happened to be there; I just dumped it off to him, and he got the bucket.”
