Mustangs split weekend games; defeat East Clinton, fall to Manchester

This past weekend saw the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs split their final two games of January as they lost on Friday night to the Manchester Greyhounds, but less than 24 hours later the loss was in the rearview mirror as they earned a big non-conference win over the East Clinton Astros. 

On Friday, Jan. 30 in Southern Hills Athletic Conference action, the Mustangs fell to the host Greyhounds 50-43 as the fourth quarter just got away from the visitors. 

LCHS led 14-8 after the first quarter, and following winning the second frame by a point at 10-9, Lynchburg-Clay held the halftime lead at 24-17. LCHS was outscored by a single point in the third frame, which saw their seven-point lead turn into a six-point advantage after the 17-16 third quarter by a score of 40-34. 

Then came the fourth quarter where Manchester outscored the Mustangs 16-3 and won the game by seven points. 

LCHS had six players reach the scoring column in the loss, led by Denver Clinton with 16 points as he made eight baskets from the field, while also collecting five rebounds and two steals. 

Quin Wells finished the SHAC contest with nine points as he made three two-point baskets, and he was 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. Wells added two rebounds, four assists and two steals. 

Trevor Niehaus totaled eight points with two two-pointers, and he finished 4-of-8 in his free-throw attempts. Niehaus also had seven rebounds and one steal. 

Teammates Elam Faust and Tanner Roberts each scored four points. Faust ended the game with one basket from the field and was 2-of-2 from the free-throw line, and he added six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Roberts was 4-of-6 from the free-throw line and finished with three rebounds and three blocks. Linkin Barnett had two points for LCHS with one two-point basket, plus he grabbed one rebound. Harley Lewis finished the game with three rebounds and one assist. 

Lynchburg-Clay’s team totals were 15 two-point baskets, and they were 13-of-20 from the free-throw line (65-percent). They also had 27 rebounds (six offensive), nine assists, seven steals and three blocks, along with 21 turnovers. 

Manchester’s team totals were 19 two-point baskets, one 3-pointer and they were 9-of-12 from the free-throw line (75-percent). The Greyhounds also had 27 rebounds (10 offensive), 14 assists, 12 steals and one block, and they had 14 turnovers. 

The Greyhounds were led by Parker Hayslip with 20 points (six two-pointers, one 3-pointer, 5-of-6 FT-line), and Braylon Rickett with 10 points (five two-point baskets). 

Other final scoring totals for Manchester included: Luke Applegate (4), Landen Doyle (2), Traevyn Hilderbrand (6), Joel Blythe (4), Clayton Colvin (2) and Elijah Crabtree (2). 

Manchester now stands at 4-7 in the SHAC Div. II standings and 8-11 overall. 

BOX SCORE
LCHS    14 10 16 03 — 43
MHS      08 09 17 16 — 50

The following day, on Saturday, Jan. 31, the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs rebounded with a 57-42 non-conference road win over the East Clinton Astros at ECHS. 

Lynchburg-Clay trailed early at 18-7 when the first quarter ended, but the second quarter belonged to the Mustangs as they outscored the host Astros 19-6 for a halftime score of 26-24 with the visitors in front. 

LCHS won the third frame too, by a 15-11 scoring differential, for a 41-35 lead. In the fourth quarter, the Mustangs added to their six-point lead with a 16-7 fourth frame for a 15-point win. 

This game saw Tanner Roberts lead LCHS with 15 points (six two-point buckets, 3-of-4 free-throw line), along with having six rebounds, and three blocks. 

Denver Clinton was next at 14 points by making four two-pointers and two 3-pointers. Clinton also had six rebounds and six assists. 

Trevor Niehaus finished with eight points off four two-point baskets, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. 

Elam Faust finished the win with seven points with three shots made from the field, and he was 1-of-3 from the free-throw line. Faust also collected six rebounds, two assists, four steals and two blocks. 

Linkin Barnett also scored seven points with his points coming from a two-point basket and a 3-pointer. He also added two rebounds, one assist and two steals. 

Harley Lewis scored four points with two baskets, and he also grabbed a rebound. Quin Wells finished with two points, two rebounds, three assists and a steal. Caden Boone collected a rebound in the win by the Mustangs. 

LCHS team totals included 21 two-point field goals, three 3-pointers (Clinton 2, Barnett 1), and they were 6-of-10 from the free-throw line. The Mustangs also collected 28 rebounds (eight offensive), 13 assists, nine steals and six blocks with nine turnovers. 

ECHS was led by Xander Lake with 16 points off eight two-point baskets. Aiden Warner followed with 14 points as he made four two-point baskets and two 3-pointers.

Other final scoring totals for East Clinton included Carson Barton (8) and Peyton Lilly (4). 

As a team, the Astros made 15 two-point baskets, four 3-pointers and went  0-of-7 from the free-throw line. 

The loss sends ECHS to an 11-7 overall record. LCHS after the two weekend games is now 7-11 overall with an SHAC Div. I record of 3-8. 

BOX SCORE
LCHS    07 19 15 16 — 57
ECHS    18 06 11 07 — 42