The Woodford County High School boys’ basketball team had its six-game win streak snapped in a 58-55 loss at home to Tates Creek. The Jackets held a slim lead for much of the contest until the Commodores took the lead with one minute to play. Woodford stayed within a basket of tying the visitors but failed in the comeback bid. The Jackets missed their first six shots of the game and trailed 4-0 before WCHS senior Corey George hit a pair of free throws. WCHS senior Brandon Cromwell hit a jump shot and scored on a layup to give Woodford the lead to cap off a 6-0 run. The Commodores then went on a 9-2 run to take a 13-8 lead with 45 seconds remaining in the quarter. WCHS senior Justin Alexander scored on a layup and later made one of two free throws to cut the Commodore lead to 13-11 at the end of the first quarter. WCHS junior Anthony Tabor scored five straight points to open the second quarter. Cromwell scored, and WCHS sophomore Hunter Penn added a layup, and the Jackets were on a 10-0 run before the Commodores called timeout. Tates Creek junior Amari Taylor caught fire in the second quarter and single-handedly cut the deficit to just three points at halftime. Woodford increased its lead to eight points early in the third quarter on hot shooting by senior Ben Nash and Penn, but the Commodores answered back on a 5-0 run and cut the lead back to three points. Penn and Tabor each scored in the last minute to give the Jackets a six-point lead, but Tates Creek junior Cion Townsend hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to cut the deficit to three points after three quarters. In the fourth quarter, the Jackets led 51-50 with 2:30 to play. Penn extended the Jacket lead to three points when he scored on a layup, but Taylor hit a three-pointer from the top of the key and tied the game 80 seconds to play. The Commodores took a one-point lead, and after Cromwell missed a free throw, the Jackets were forced to foul. The Commodores made their free throws down the stretch, and Tabor missed a three-pointer as time expired. Madison Southern The Jackets toppled Madison Southern 68-41 Thursday, Dec. 13 at the Hive. The Jackets jumped out to a 17-0 lead midway through the first quarter and never looked back. Woodford's defense smothered the Eagles and created transition points on the offensive end. Cromwell and Penn each scored a basket to give the Jackets a 4-0 lead to start the game. Nash was fouled attempting a three-pointer, and made all three free throws. On the next trip down the floor, Nash drained a three from the top of the key to give the Jackets a 10-0 lead, and the Eagles called a timeout. George stole the Eagles inbounds pass, and found Cromwell wide open for a three-pointer to increase the lead to 13-0. Penn and Tabor scored on layups to give Woodford a 17-0 lead, forcing another timeout. Ashton Myles-Devore scored on a terrific driving layup, and Woodford led 22-4 at the end of the quarter. Penn had a terrific second quarter, blocking a pair of shots and scoring from beyond the arc, and also throwing down a dunk late in the half. Myles-Devore hit a three-pointer, and then scored on a driving layup. The Jackets led 43-17 at halftime. Scoring slowed down in the third quarter as both teams went cold. George and Cromwell drained a pair of jumpers, and Tabor scored in the final minute to give Woodford a 51-26 lead to end the third quarter. The Jackets heated up from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. Myles-Devore, Ryan Duke and Alex Morgan combined for four three-pointers to increase Woodford's lead down the stretch. The Jackets moved the ball around the perimiter in the final minute to run out the clock. Clark County The Jackets were impressive on the road again with a 65-55 win over 12th ranked George Rogers Clark Tuesday, Dec. 11. The win was Woodford's second top-25 win on the road this season. Cromwell had a terrific fourth quarter, hitting three shots from beyond the arc to help the Jackets pull away down the stretch. The teams were tied 11-11 at the end of the first quarter. Nash nailed a three-pointer and Tabor a George each added a pair of baskets. The Jackets took the lead in the second quarter by swarming the Cardinals' ballhandlers. WCHS senior Justin Alexander scored a pair of baskets, and Cromwell added seven points including one bucket from beyond the arc and Woodford led 30-21 at halftime. The Cardinals cut Woodford's lead to six points in the third quarter. Cromwell and Penn each scored four points but The Cardinals made four three-pointers and had momentum heading into the fourth quarter. Cromwell took control in the fourth quarter scoring six times for 13 points and increasing Woodford's lead to double digits. Tabor scored six and Nash hit another shot from beyond the arc.
The Cardinals hit four three-pointers in the fourth quarter but ran out of time in their comeback bid. Cromwell led the Jackets with 24 points.