CHARLESTON, W.Va. — First-year Charleston Catholic Coach Hunter Moles said he told his players at halftime of Saturday night’s game against unbeaten Cabell Midland that it wasn’t over despite the Irish trailing by 15 points.
“I told them we were still in the game and all we needed were a few stops,” Moles said after he watched his Class A team come from behind and upset the AAA Knights 70-64.
Moles’ team looked stunned as it headed into the locker room after Cabell-Midland (12-1) ended the second quarter on a 17-0 run. Catholic (9-3) led 31-29 with about 3:00 left in the half. But Midland turned on the gas and had a 46-31 advantage at the half.
The Irish got it going in the third quarter. After giving up an initial basketball to the Knights Catholic went on their own double digit run cutting the lead to 55-51 at the end of the quarter.
A seven-point run to begin the fourth gave the Irish a 58-55 lead with five minutes remaining. They were able to hang on and secure the victory.
Catholic followed Moles’ instructions and got stops in the second half. Knights leader scorer Chandler Schmidt, who scored 18 in the opening half, didn’t score a point in a frustrating second half. Catholic junior Zion Suddeth was matched up with Chandler most of the time. Suddeth was also leading the charge offensively. He scored all of his 18 points in the second half.
Midland, the top-ranked team in this week’s MetroNews Power Index, was able to erase an 11-point fourth quarter deficit on the road at Beckley earlier this week but couldn’t work its magic again. The Irish hit some big free throws down the stretch including a pair late from since Marshall Pile.
Along with Chandler Schmidt’s 18, the Knights wer led by KK Siebert’s 16. Palmer Riggio had 13.
The Irish four player sin double figures led by Aiden Satterfield with 19, Suddeth 18, Thomas Blaydes 13 and Pile’s 10.
The only remaining undefeated teams in boys basketball are Shady Spring, Pendleton County, Greenbrier West and Williamstown.