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The Switzerland County Pacer boys varsity basketball team participated in the Jefferson County Invitational Tournament last Tuesday and Wednesday, and although the Pacers came out 0-3 on the tourney, Coach Travis Wrightsman said that his troops battled the entire session.
“Overall, we struggled in the tournament,” Coach Wrightsman said. “Bryce Turner and Ben Hicks were both out with injuries in the Danville game. We struggled to make shots in all three games. I thought our kids played hard and competed in the tournament.”
GAME 1:
Switzerland County 32
The opening round game was tough enough, drawing Class 3A #9 Danville, but without key starters Turner and Hicks, the Pacers were undermanned from the outset.
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Led by a big first quarter from Bryce Wrightsman and capped by a big fourth quarter from Ben Hicks, the Switzerland County Pacer boys varsity basketball team earned its second win of the young season in a rare Monday night contest with Crothersville.
Thanks to nine first period points from Wrightsman, including a three-pointer and three field goals, the Pacers jumped out to a 21-4 lead after the first eight minutes of play.
Freshman Jacob Williams also had an outstanding opening period, hitting a three-pointer to go along with a pair of field goals and a freethrow for eight first quarter points. Bryce Turner and Hicks also had buckets in the opening stanza.
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Injuries and COVID-19 quarantines both impacted the Switzerland County and Rising Sun boys varsity basketball teams on Friday night, but even with each squad missing key pieces, it was still a back and forth battle for the ‘Ruler of the River’ trophy.
In the end, Rising Sun used a big third quarter to pull away and defeat the Pacers by a final score of 49-41.
Playing without starters Ben Hicks and Nate Geyman, Switzerland County got five first quarter points from Bryce Turner and a basket from Jacob Williams to post seven first period points.
Rising Sun would ride its outside shooting expertise all night, posted 10 points in the opening quarter, as Chase Kuehn, Damon Carrigan, and Peyton Merica all had three-pointers and Merica also had a freethrow.
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The season started 10 days later than first year coach Travis Wrightsman anticipated, but the Switzerland County Pacer boys varsity basketball team got the year rolling on Friday night, December 4th, with a big win over Christian Academy of Madison, 54-37.
The opener was highlighted by junior Ben Hicks scoring a career high 27 points on nine field goals and three three-pointers.
Madison Christian got off to a fast start, outscoring Switzerland County by a 14-13 margin in the opening eight minutes. Hicks had eight of the Pacers first period points on a pair of three-pointers and a field goal, and freshman Jacob Williams also had a three-pointer. Nate Geyman also converted a bucket for Switzerland County.