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The FCHS boys' varsity basketball team's bid to break into the win column was denied by an upstart Johnston City team Monday night, as the Indians held off a furious Redbird comeback to notch the win, 43-38, in the late game of opening night of the Mid-Winter Classic.
After Daniel Davison's conventional three-point play gave the Indians a 37-27 lead with 2:45 remaining in the game, Redbird senior Preston Filkins countered with a three-point play of his own followed by a driving layup between two defenders on successive trips down the floor to cut the Johnston City lead to 37-32.
Then, after it appeared Nick Dean put the game on ice for the Indians at the 1:30 mark with a short bank shot from the block, senior Kyle Weeks buried a long trey to bring the Redbirds back within four at 39-35 with under a minute to play.
West Frankfort twice cut the lead to three with less than thirty second in the game, once on senior Ashten Ashtiani's hard-fought layup and another time on a free throw from junior Taylor Cash, but two more free throws from Dean with twelve seconds remaining sealed the win for Johnston City.
Despite never leading in the ball game, Redbird head coach Kevin Toney said his club showed some fortitude down the stretch and believes they can hang with any team on the Mid-Winter Classic slate.
"I was really proud of our guys because even though we were down 11 points late in the game, they showed a lot of class and poise by hanging in there," said Toney.
"No one team is head and shoulders better than any other team in this tournament and whoever wins this thing could have a loss. Come Saturday night there could be three teams with a chance win it," added Toney, referring to the parity among the tournament's six teams.
The Redbirds will be back in action Wednesday night when they take on the Carterville Lions at 9 p.m.
FCHS 2 12 19 35
JCHS 8 15 25 43
A. Ashtiani 7 0 8 5 19
P. Filkins 3 0 1 1 7
K. Weeks 1 1 0 0 5
The FCHS boys' varsity basketball team's bid to break into the win column was denied by an upstart Johnston City team Monday night, as the Indians held off a furious Redbird comeback to notch the win, 43-38, in the late game of opening night of the Mid-Winter Classic.
After Daniel Davison's conventional three-point play gave the Indians a 37-27 lead with 2:45 remaining in the game, Redbird senior Preston Filkins countered with a three-point play of his own followed by a driving layup between two defenders on successive trips down the floor to cut the Johnston City lead to 37-32.
Then, after it appeared Nick Dean put the game on ice for the Indians at the 1:30 mark with a short bank shot from the block, senior Kyle Weeks buried a long trey to bring the Redbirds back within four at 39-35 with under a minute to play.
West Frankfort twice cut the lead to three with less than thirty second in the game, once on senior Ashten Ashtiani's hard-fought layup and another time on a free throw from junior Taylor Cash, but two more free throws from Dean with twelve seconds remaining sealed the win for Johnston City.
Despite never leading in the ball game, Redbird head coach Kevin Toney said his club showed some fortitude down the stretch and believes they can hang with any team on the Mid-Winter Classic slate.
"I was really proud of our guys because even though we were down 11 points late in the game, they showed a lot of class and poise by hanging in there," said Toney.
"No one team is head and shoulders better than any other team in this tournament and whoever wins this thing could have a loss. Come Saturday night there could be three teams with a chance win it," added Toney, referring to the parity among the tournament's six teams.
The Redbirds will be back in action Wednesday night when they take on the Carterville Lions at 9 p.m.
FCHS 2 12 19 35
JCHS 8 15 25 43
A. Ashtiani 7 0 8 5 19
P. Filkins 3 0 1 1 7
K. Weeks 1 1 0 0 5
