By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter
Walton-Verona made a run in the fourth quarter, but Anderson County scored the last eight points to come away with a 68-53 win in the final first round game of the 8th Region boys’ basketball tournament on Thursday at Henry County High School.
After Anderson County took a 53-39 lead early in the fourth quarter, Walton-Verona went on a 14-7 run that included two 3-point goals by senior guard Kyle Kinmon. His second trey cut the margin to 60-53 with 2:26 left on the clock, but the Bearcats weren’t able to score after that.
Anderson County pulled away at the end by making six of eight foul shots and getting a layup on a fast break. The winning team ended up with a 20-7 scoring advantage at the free throw line.
Officials called 22 fouls against Walton-Verona with 12 coming in the fourth quarter. Anderson County missed 11 foul shots in the final period to open the door for the Bearcats’ comeback, but they came up short.
Walton-Verona also trailed by 14 points, 28-14, in the first half and rallied to make it 34-27 at halftime. The Bearcats were never able to sustain a run long enough to surge into the lead.
The game’s leading scorer was Anderson County sophomore guard Cobe Penny with 19 points. Walton-Verona sophomore guard Zach Clinkenbeard finished with 13 points and Kinmon had 12 in his final game for the Bearcats. He was one of four seniors in the team’s starting lineup this season.
This was the first year since 2011 that Walton-Verona made it to the 8th Region tournament. The team’s final record is 18-11.
ANDERSON COUNTY 20 14 13 21 — 68
WALTON-VERONA 14 13 12 14 — 53
ANDERSON COUNTY (16-13): Mitchell 1 1 5, Garmon 2 7 12, Gillis 2 5 9, Pittman 2 0 6, Harper 5 3 15, Gritton 1 0 2, Penny 6 5 19. Totals: 20 20 68.
WALTON-VERONA (18-11): Brook 3 1 7, Sullivan 3 0 9, Poore 1 0 2, Lay 3 2 8, Anderson 1 0 2, Clinkenbeard 4 4 13, Kinmon 5 0 12. Totals: 20 7 53.
3-pointers: AC — Penny 2, Harper 2, Pittman 2, Mitchell, Garmon. WV — Sullivan 3, Kinmon 2, Clinkenbeard.