Titans Take Two Of Three Against Tough Competition
The Harrodsburg Herald/Samuel Warren
Mercer County junior Kaleb Murray looked for a pass during the Titans 54-38 loss to George Rogers Clark on Saturday, Feb. 15.
April Ellis
Herald Staff
The Mercer County Titans boys basketball team (18-8) tipped off their final week of regular season play with possibly their most prestigious this season, a 60-54 win over the Ballard Bruins (17-7) on Monday, Feb. 17, on the Chris Souder Court.
The Titans trailed by as many as 10 points before a fourth quarter rally and excellent free throw shooting clinched the win over Ballard. The Titans were down their senior guard, Andrew Tatum, after an ankle injury in Saturday’s game against GRC, and sophomore Collier Sexton got the varsity start. While his nerves sometimes showed in the first half, he settled into his game in the second half and helped the Titans get the “W” against an athletic and physical Ballard team.
Mercer’s first points were from a wide open shot under the basket from Kaleb Murray with an assist from Jackson Doughty. Then Ballard answered with a 3-point shot. That scenario played out over and over throughout the game. Mercer would make a good play and start to gain momentum and Ballard would hit a 3-point shot to shift the advantage back to themselves. They hit eight 3-point shots during the game.
The Bruins started with a full court press, but it didn’t phase Mercer, however, they intensified the pressure once Mercer crossed the half court line. It was a physical game and it didn’t take long for both teams to rack up the fouls. Senior Hagan Preston went to the bench in the first quarter with two fouls and the Bruins went into the bonus. Of Mercer’s 10 points in the first quarter, five were twos from Murray and a 3-point shot from Jackson Doughty and the rest were from the foul line. Ballard led at the end of the first quarter 14-10.
Just 30 seconds into the second quarter, Doughty drained another 3-point shot and cut Ballard’s lead to one point, 14-13. Anytime Ballard had a semi-open three, they took it and quickly added five points. Preston hit a midrange jumper, but Ballard went on a six point scoring run, 25-15. Ellis struggled through traffic and missed a few shots, but once he got the foul call he hit both foul shots. The next possession he had a good put back and the Titans started to gain momentum, until Ballard hit another 3-point shot with 3 minutes left in the first half.
Ballard kept a constant attack on the ball and at times Mercer struggled, but as the game progressed they adapted and worked around the trap. Ellis was able to extend over the trap and found Doughty open for another trey. Murray was fouled, and hit the front end of his shots, but a lane violation gave him another opportunity and he redeemed the miss. Ballard fired another one up from behind the arc with only 25 seconds left in the quarter. In the next possession they trapped senior Jadon King and it looked like time was going to run out before Mercer could get a shot off, but Doughty shook his defender lose and King hit him on the cut. Doughty found Sexton on the baseline and with barely and inch to spare, he cut under the basket for a reverse layup and gave Mercer an extra boost going into half time, 31-26.
Mercer exploded out of the gate and went on a nine point scoring run and cut Ballard’s lead to one, 35-34, but once again, the Bruins hit another 3-point shot. Murray connected with Ellis who plowed through the lane on a reverse. Doughty broke up a pass and the momentum definitely shifted Mercer’s way, forcing a Ballard time out.
Out of the time-out, the Bruins hit yet another 3-point shot and then Mercer called a time-out. With 1:57 left in the quarter, Murray a hit a hesitation jumper to make it a 3-point game, 41-38. Doughty tied the ball up for a jump ball and Mercer regained possession. Ballard’s coach was not happy with the call and ended up with a technical. Doughty hit both shots and it was one point game.
Preston was fouled and after hitting both shots, Mercer took the lead, 42-41. Ballard, of course, hit a 3-point shot. With an assist from Preston, Ellis hit another bucket for Mercer and they trailed at the end of the third quarter, 46-44.
Ellis pulled down a big defensive rebound and Preston converted it into a 3-point shot for a one point lead, 47-46. Mercer turned the ball over a few times and Ballard capitalized on their mistakes. Ellis had a strong power dribble, hit the basket and got the and one call. He hit is free throw and tied the game up 50-50. It was back and forth until Doughty hit both of his shots from the charity stripe and Mercer led by three, 57-54 with 53.1 seconds left in the game.
Out of Ballard’s time-out, Ellis grabbed another big rebound and was fouled. He hit the first of two shots. Mercer’s defense was stellar and did not allow Ballard to take an uncontested shot. Doughty grabbed a rebound and was fouled and put the nail in the coffin, hitting both foul shots, and Mercer walked away with the upset, 60-54.
