Perry Central blitzes Switzerland County

By LARRY GOFFINET
Sports Editor

PHOTO: Danny Bolin

Perry Central center Colten Hedinger (left) gets past Switzerland County defender Alex Curran for a layup in Saturday's first-round regional basketball game.

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PHOTO: Danny Bolin

Perry Central forward Dacota Schaad (left) drives against Switzerland County defender Bob Tressler in Saturday's first-round regional basketball game.

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PHOTO: Danny Bolin

Perry Central guard Derek Thomas hits a three-pointer over a Switzerland County defender in the first quarter of Saturday's first-round regional basketball game.

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HUNTINGBURG—Perry Central forced 17 turnovers, including 10 on steals, to beat Switzerland County 60-46 in the first round of the Class 2A boys basketball regional Saturday.
The Commodores improved to 22-3, setting a school record for victories in a season, as they won a regional game for the first time ever.
They forced three turnovers as they went on an 8-2 lead to start the third quarter, building their lead to 19 points, 41-22.
Austin LeClere made a steal and layup during that run. He also had a nice assist as Tanner Cassidy cut inside for a layup.
“I thought our pressure was great,” said Perry Central Coach Matt Carter. “We wanted to make as many transition baskets as we could because if we had to grind it out in a half-court game against their size, that would play into their hands.”
One of the Pacers’ turnovers in that stretch came on a 10-second count, as they could not get the ball across the midcourt line against Perry Central’s press.
The press rattled the Pacers early, as they committed two violations in the first half in which they ran the baseline out of bounds  though they were not allowed to because it was not after a basket.
Perry Central shot well from three-point range early, making 3 of 6 from that distance in the first quarter to build an 18-10 lead.
Derek Thomas and Abe Schwartz each made one and then Dacota Schaad banked in a 33-footer at the buzzer ending the quarter.
“We shot the ball great to start the game,” said Carter. “I thought we started relying too much on (three-point shots) a little later (going 1 for 5 from that distance in the second quarter).”
The Commodores did not take a three-pointer in the third quarter, though, as they relied on their pressure defense and nice cuts to get them some inside baskets.
Reserve center Dillon Hubert did hit an 18-footer out front late in that quarter.
“Dillon gave us a big lift,” said Carter. “I told him if their post man backs off of him, shoot that shot. He missed his first one but hit the next one.”
Cassidy and Schwartz led Perry Central’s balanced attack with 13 points apiece.
Cassidy hit 5 of 10 from the field and 3 of 4 free throws. Schwartz hit 3 of 5 from the field, including 2 of 3 from three-point range, and 5 of 5 free throws.
Cassidy and Schwartz each made three steals. Cassidy also had seven assists.
Switzerland County outrebounded Perry Central 32-26. But considering the Pacers sometimes had two 6-foot-6 players and one 6-5 in the lineup together while Perry Central has only one player taller than 6-2, “I thought we did a great job on the boards,” said Carter.
Cassidy and Thomas each grabbed six rebounds for Perry Central.
The Commodores outshot the Pacers from the field 45.8 percent to 40.4 percent.
Forward Austin Clark led Switzerland County with 24 points and eight rebounds. He hit 10 of 20 from the field but made only 3 of 7 free throws.
Center Alex Curran also grabbed eight rebounds for the Pacers.
Perry Central was scheduled to play another tall team, Linton-Stockton, in the championship game Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Switzerland County finished the season 18-5.

At Southridge Regional Saturday
First-Round Game
Perry Central (60)
    fg-a    ft-a    reb    pf    tp
Cassidy    5-10    3-4    6    1    13
LeClere    3-6    2-4    2    1    8
Hedinger    4-8    0-0    4    3    8
Thomas    3-9    1-2    6    2    8
Huber    1-3    0-0    2    2    2
A. Schwartz    3-5    5-5    1    1    13
Schaad    1-2    0-0    0    0    3
Edwards    0-1    0-0    0    0    0
Hubert    2-4    1-1    1    1    5
Cummings    0-0    0-0    0    0    0
N. Schwartz    0-0    0-0    0    0    0
Schraner    0-0    0-0    0    0    0
Team            4
    Totals    22-48    12-16    26    11    60
Switzerland County (46)
    fg-a    ft-a    reb    pf    tp
Swanson    1-1    1-2    2    2    3
Clark    10-20    3-7    8    1    24
A. Curran    3-8    0-0    8    3    6
Smith    1-7    1-2    4    2    3
Ritch    2-6    0-0    0    0    2
White    0-0    0-0    4    2    0
Burk    0-1    0-0    1    1    0
Tressler    2-3    0-0    3    1    4
B. Curran    0-1    0-0    1    0    0
Hunter    0-0    0-0    0    0    0
Powell    0-0    0-0    0    0    0
Phagan    0-0    0-0    0    0    0
Team            1
    Totals    19-47    5-11    32    14    46

  Three-point shooting: Perry Central 4-12 (Cassidy 0-2, Thomas 1-3, Huber 0-2, A. Schwartz 2-3, Schaad 1-1, Edwards 0-1), Switzerland County 3-8 (Clark 1-3, A. Curran 0-1, Ritch 2-4). Assists: Perry Central 14 (Cassidy 7, LeClere 2, A. Schwartz 2, Hedinger, Thomas, Huber). Steals: Perry Central 10 (Cassidy 3, A. Schwartz 3, Thomas 2, LeClere, Huber). Turnovers: Perry Central 10, Switzerland County 17.

Perry Central    18    15    15    12  -     60
Switzerland Co.    10    10    11    15  -     46