By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The Walton-Verona Bearcats made just two free throws in the final five minutes and lost to Lexington Christian, 50-36, in the quarterfinals of the Kentucky All “A” Classic boys’ small-school state basketball tournament on Friday at Frankfort Convention Center.
Lexington Christian closed the game with a 12-2 run to turn what had been a close contest into an easy victory. The Eagles (18-4) move on to the semifinals and play Paris at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Walton-Verona returns home with a 17-5 record.
The last field goal the Bearcats made in Friday’s game was a layup by guard Austin Lay that cut Lexington Christian’s lead to 38-34 with 5:47 left in the fourth quarter. After that, however, they were 0-for-4 from the field, 2-for-6 from the line and committed three turnovers to finish with their lowest point total of the season.
After taking a 23-16 halftime lead, Walton-Verona actually struggled on offense during the entire second half, scoring just seven points in the third quarter and six in the fourth. The Bearcats’ only double-figure scorer was Curry Shazier with 11 points. He made two of the team’s five field goals in the second half.
The two Walton-Verona players who entered the game with double-figure scoring averages had a net total of 12 points. Junior guard Zach Clinkenbeard scored all nine of his points in the first half and sophomore center Dieonte Miles was limited to just three free throws.
Rebounding was also a problem for the Bearcats. They lost the battle on the boards by a 34-19 margin and had only two second-chance points. Lexington Christian scored 13 points on second-chance attempts.
LEX. CHRISTIAN 12 4 17 17 — 50
WALTON-VERONA 10 13 7 6 — 36
LEX. CHRISTIAN (18-4): Hendricksen 4 0 9, Rode 5 3 13, Stewart 1 0 2, Harper 5 0 12, Hall 6 0 14. Totals: 21 3 50.
WALTON-VERONA (17-5): Moran 0 1 1, Clinkenbeard 3 0 9, Miles 0 3 3, Lay 3 0 6, Pardee 3 0 6, Shazier 5 0 11. Totals: 14 4 36.
Three-pointers: LC — Harper 2, Hall 2, Hendricksen. WV — Clinkenbeard 3, Shazier.