Golden Eagles top Pirates 64-59

Johnson Central’s Connor Hopkins defended against Magoffin County’s Zane Whitaker during a 57th District boys’ basketball game in Salyersville on Friday, Feb. 10. Magoffin County edged Johnson Central 46-45. Photo courtesy of Jim Arnett

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Johnson Central’s Jacob Grimm defended a shot attempt from Magoffin County’s Grayson Whitaker during a 57th District boys’ basketball game on Friday, Feb. 10. Photo courtesy of Jim Arnett

BELFRY — Johnson Central upended Belfry 64-59 in a boys’ high school basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Visiting Johnson Central returned to the win column after losing four of its previous five games.

Johnson Central shot 50 percent (25 of 50) from the field. The Golden Eagles made six of 17 three-point field goal attempts, shooting 35.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Johnson Central shot 53.3 percent (eight of 15) from the free-throw line.

Eighth grader Austin Slone led Johnson Central with a double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

Accompanying Slone in double figures for the Golden Eagles, Brayden Shepherd scored 15 points and Ryan Rose netted 14 points.

Finishing near double figures for Johnson Central, Mason Lawson and David Fink added eight points apiece.

Rounding out Johnson Central’s individual scoring, Jacob Grimm chipped in two points.

Belfry shot 44.4 percent (24 of 54) from the field. The Pirates shot 47.4 percent from three-point range, connecting on nine of 19 attempts beyond the arc.

Struggling to hit free throws, Belfry connected on only two of nine foul shots.

Cody Erwin scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Pirates. Erwin made five of nine three-point field goal attempts.

Accompanying Erwin in double figures for Belfry, Eric Daniels scored 13 points and Caden Woolum netted 11 points.

Barely missing double figures for Belfry, Noah Brown added nine points.

Providing Belfry’s other scoring, Cayden Varney contributed six points and Aiden Burke chipped in two points.