GRC beats Montgomery County 60-51 in its final game at Letcher Norton Gymnasium

Published 10:23 pm Friday, January 31, 2020

George Rogers Clark’s boys basketball team took on Montgomery County Friday night in the second and final meeting of the two teams this regular season.

The game was also the finale of the team’s time in Letcher Norton Gymnasium as the next home game will be played in GRC’s new arena.

The Cardinals defeated Montgomery County 59-52 on the Indians’ court two weeks ago.

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Lincoln Bush foreshadowed his performance by scoring the game’s first points. Montgomery County then scored five in a row to take what would be their only lead of the game.

Bush went on to score the next seven points to put GRC back on top.

“He just goes to battle,” GRC head coach Josh Cook said. “He’s out there working his butt off. I’m so proud of him and I’m proud of every one of them, but a heck of a game by Lincoln Bush.”

Jared Wellman, who missed GRC’s game against Tates Creek earlier in the week and wasn’t in the starting lineup in Friday’s game, checked in midway through the quarter and hit his first attempt, a 3-pointer that gave GRC a 12-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Indians were able to tie the game at 17 midway through the quarter, but GRC went on a 7-2 run to keep Montgomery County at bay. Montgomery County would cut their deficit to 24-22 by halftime.

GRC opened the second half with two quick baskets, pushing their lead back to six points, but Montgomery County continued to make runs, cutting their deficit to one point several times, but GRC always answered back and kept the Indians from taking the lead.

“We had pretty good composure,” Cook said. “We got stops when we needed to, our bench stepped up at times and we fought hard. If we lost our composure, we gained it back pretty quickly. Our leadership was out there too, which was big.”

After leading 42-35 at the end of the third quarter, GRC was able to keep its foot on the gas in the final period.

Montgomery County had two runs in the fourth quarter, cutting it to four points early and five points midway through the period, but GRC scored nine points in a row late in the quarter to put the Indians away and leave the gym with a 60-51 win for the final time.

“I told our guys that it makes you sit back and be humble and thankful. You got to close the chapter out in one of the most historic basketball programs in the state of Kentucky,” Cook said. “ To come out with a win and hopefully honor those that came before us, I was glad to be a part of it.”

GRC will begin their next chapter with a matchup with Madison Southern Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in their new gym.