Rockets Fall to Houston County, Tigers to McEwen

McEWEN (February 21) — McEwen High School hosted the District 12-1A Boys Basketball Tournament semifinals Saturday. First, the Clarksburg Rockets fell 76-46 to Houston County, then the Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central Tigers were defeated 64-29 by the host Warriors.

Houston County Fighting Irish 76, Clarksburg Rockets 46

The Irish jumped out to a 23-9 lead after the opening frame, led by Townes Epps with 13 points, including a three-pointer. Ryan Carter scored four points, and Jaxon Honeycutt and Hayden Burgess each hit a three. Weston Vestal had all nine Rocket points.

Houston County had a 21-12 advantage in the second quarter, led by Epps with ten points, including a three. Carter scored seven, and Knox Parker and Daniel Phillips each had a pair. Vestal scored five for Clarksburg, and Reagan Halter had four points with a three-pointer. Clay Glosson had a pair, and Trae Cobb hit a free throw. At the half, the Irish led 44-21.

The Rockets had a 16-15 edge in the third, led by Cobb with five points. Glosson scored four, and Halter hit a three. Vestal and Jake Miller each had a pair. Carter led the Irish with eight points. Epps scored seven with a three-pointer. Entering the final frame, Houston County led 59-37.

The Irish closed the win with a 17-9 tilt in the fourth, led by Epps with six points. Carter scored five points, and Trace Mitchell, Brayden Self and Samuel Ferrell each had a pair. Vestal scored four for Clarksburg. Halter hit a three, and Cayden Hollowell had a pair.

Houston County’s Townes Epps led all scorers with 36 points, including a trio of three-pointers. Ryan Carter scored 24 points.

Weston Vestal led the Rockets with 20 points. Reagan Halter scored ten with a trio of threes.

McEwen Warriors 64, Central Tigers 29

The Warriors stormed out to a 17-2 lead after the first frame, led by Case Greene with six points. Brennon Newsom and Ty Greene each hit a three-pointer, and Kainan Gill also scored three points. Elijah Villarruel had a pair. Nic King scored two for Central.

McEwen had a 19-9 advantage in the second quarter, led by C. Greene with eight points, including a three. Koby Hudson scored four, and Villarruel hit a three. T. Greene added a pair, and K. Gill and Truman Gill each hit a free throw. Tiger Junah Smith scored seven points with a three-pointer, and King added a pair. At the half, McEwen led 36-11.

The Warriors enjoyed a 19-7 tilt in the third, led by C. Greene with seven points, including a three. T. Greene scored five, and K. Gill had three points. Hudson and T. Gill each added a pair. Tiger Brody Huff hit a three, and Parker Finley also scored three points. Sal Sala hit a free throw. Heading into the final frame, McEwen led 55-18.

Central had an 11-9 edge in the fourth, led by Parker Boyd with six points on a pair of threes. Smith scored nine. Warrior Cayden Wallace scored five with a three-pointer, and Miner Reed and Ryan Gunn each had a pair.

McEwen’s Case Greene led all scorers with 21 points, including a pair of threes.

Junah Smith led the Tigers with 12 points, including a three-pointer.