VANCEBURG —
Russell senior guard Kyle Skaggs could have stayed in Flatwoods instead of going to Monday's game at Lewis County.
The Red Devils’ leading scorer wore his charcoal gray travel outfit to Lewis County Middle School and sometimes chatted with teammate Jacob Smith and others instead, and things were just fine. A 27-4 run over the second and third quarters and senior guard Jacob Porter’s career-high 26 points were plenty for a 73-46 victory.
Monday was also the latest stop in Russell's (21-6) special season. The Red Devils are 12-2 over their last 14 games, and coach Merle Kidwell is watching his team's first 20-win campaign since the 2007 team won the 63rd District, reached the 16th Region semifinals and finished with a 27-5 record.
“That's been one of our goals since I've been here, is to get 20 wins,” Porter said. “This year it's a special group of guys, and we've achieved our goal — 20 wins.”
Russell coach Merle Kidwell talked about a certain pair of cartoon superheroes.
“Jacob's kind of been Robin to Kyle Skaggs' Batman,” Kidwell said. “(Porter) had to be Batman (on Monday). He carried us; Jacob has ability to do that.”
Skaggs sat out last night and will miss tonight’s game against West Carter with an injured left big toe he hurt last Friday against Greenup County.
“It could be broken, maybe not,” Skaggs said. “It could be a strong sprain.”
Skaggs also said he would like to play against Fleming County Friday in Flemingsburg, but he's not going to push things.
“Right now, we've secured the No. 1 seed (in the 63rd District tournament),” Skaggs said. “You don't want it to be one of those lingering issues.”
Russell led by just 20-13 just 90 seconds into the second quarter when Porter converted senior center Lance Evans' steal, and the Lions later closed to 22-21 on an 8-2 streak led by junior guard Brett Ruckel's six points (he led Lewis County with 16).
Porter then started Lewis County's nightmare by draining two 3-pointers from the left side; the second converted a Ramsey Mullins steal and featured a fake to throw off a Lewis County defender.
After Ruckel scored with 54 seconds left before intermission, nothing Lewis County tried to do to contain Porter worked in the third stanza; he scored on senior guard Googie Hayes' two assists and had seven points a little more than a minute, but it was his assist to junior forward Johnny McGuire that had Red Devil fans screaming.
Porter actually made a mistake; he was in midair under Russell's basket with no one nearby. He saw Hayes in the right corner, but fired a no-look pass to McGuire (16 points) in the lane, who made the bucket.
“I was just trying to find an open man,” Porter said. “They always say don't leave your feet when you're passing, but I got caught underneath the rim. I looked at Googie … I just saw a maroon jersey moving in my peripheral (vision), so I just floated it to him real quick.”
McGuire didn't know what he was expecting, but he thought it would be good … “Because whether I'm open or someone else is open, the guards are good enough to see it, and they will get it to the open man.”
By the time Lewis County (11-11) scored again on Sammy Holder's two free throws a little less than three minutes into the third quarter — Russell 49, Lions 25. Porter and McGuire scored again, and Mullins added a free throw in the final two minutes.
“Our effort wasn't there, our focus wasn't there, it didn't look like we had a lot of desire,” Lewis County coach Joe Hampton said. “As a coach, as a coaching staff, I'm somewhat embarrassed to play that way in front of our home crowd.”
After the game, Kidwell couldn't decide whether he or his team is enjoying the season most.
“It's kind of a team effort,” Kidwell said. “They're a fun bunch to coach. I'm not up pacing the sidelines as much; they know what we want.”
RUSSELL 14 18 22 19 — 73
LEWIS CO. 13 10 6 17 — 46
Russell (73): Hayes 4, Lane 7, Evans 7, Porter 26, Tackett 2, Smith 3, D. Campbell 2, McGuire 16, Miller 3.
Lewis Co. (46): Davis 4, Walker 10, Adams 2, Ruckel 16, Parker 4, Holder 6, Weddington 2, G. Keibler 2, Ripato 0.
Free throws: R 19-31; LC 16-21. 3-pointers: R 4 (Porter 2, Lane, Miller); LC 2 (Walker, Parker). Team fouls: R 24, LC 23.
Local Sports
Porter nets career-best 26 as Russell beats Lewis
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Locals struggle to make impact
Some days you are the windshield and some days you are the bug.
It is a saying that proved to be all too true for Rowan County on Friday night at the KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships at the University of Louisville’s Owsley Frazier Cardinal Park. -
Rough Ending
Fairview senior Kennedy Womack wasn’t her consistent self in Saturday morning’s state tennis semifinals at the University of Kentucky’s Hilary Boone Tennis Complex.
As a result, the top seed fell to Lexington Sayre sophomore Madeline Rolph 6-1, 6-0.
Womack was obviously disappointed with her finish, especially after losing in last year’s state finals, but she was happy for her good friend Rolph. -
FLYING HIGH
If Fairview could have fielded a combined track and field team at Saturday’s Class A State Track and Field Championships, the Eagles and Lady Eagles would have had a record day. Instead, the Fairview girls had to “settle” for fifth, while the boys’ claimed 10th.
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Womack eliminated in semifinals
Top-seeded Kennedy Womack was eliminated in the semifinals of the State Tournament on Saturday at the University of Kentucky tennis courts.
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Big-inning Dawgs
It looked for a while that a questionable call may have determined the outcome of the game, but in the end, it was just an afterthought.
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Boyd County finds senior spark
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Doubles teams head to semis at state tourney
With rain staying away, the KHSAA State Tennis Tournament got into full swing on Friday afternoon.
Semifinals and finals will be held today at the University of Kentucky Boone/Downing Tennis Complex for boys and girls singles competitions. -
McKnight hurdling to Georgetown
Fairview’s Paige McKnight is known for jumping hurdles. She cleared a pretty big one on Thursday.
In front of friends and family at Fairview Elementary School, McKnight signed a letter of intent to run track for Georgetown College. -
Several area schools will be represented at State Track and Field championships
Local track and field athletes are ready to try to carry region competition success onto the state stage.
Several area schools will be represented at this weekend’s State Track and Field championships at the University of Louisville. The Class 2A meet is set for today at 3:15 p.m. and Class A competition is scheduled to begin on Saturday at 8:15 a.m. -
EAST KENTUCKY BASKETBALL HISTORY: Reflections on 'The Shot'
Paintsville High School legend J.R. VanHoose is also an eastern Kentucky basketball sports historian. This is one in an ongoing series of stories.
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