Pelfrey and Ford pace Bulldogs with 18
HAZARD – March 15, 2021 – Brendon D. Miller
As the saying goes, you can throw out the records when the Bulldogs and Commodores meet, especially in the 54th District Finals. The teams met in the District final for the fourth consecutive year each coming off decidedly different regular seasons. The Bulldogs came in as the Region’s top rated team in record (19-4) and RPI (.63119), while the Commodores took the court in what has been a down year for the perennial region power at 8-12 and .49391.
Perry Freshman Rydge Beverly had a huge game continually getting in the lane and to the basket to lead the Commodores with a game-high 22 on the night. Tyler Day added 12 as the Commodores came to the brink of the upset. The usual suspects for Hazard stemmed the Commodores’ momentum all night as both Senior Wade Pelfrey and Junior Andrew Ford led the Dawgs with 18.
Hazard’s other Senior leader, Jarrett Napier would be the hero though. With the score tied at 51 with 1:30 on the clock, Napier knocked down his only 3-pointer of the night from the left wing for the game winner. Perry hit back with a basket by Beverly, and then forced a turn over by the Bulldogs as they tried to run out the clock, but Napier ended up with the inbound pass with under :10 to play to seal the win and second consecutive District title.
1st QUARTER
All five Commodore starters scored in a high-energy start to the game. Beverly had seven including two baskets and 3 of 3 at the line. Tyler Fannin hit a 3-pointer, Lanse McKenzie had a basket and 1, and Day and Dylan Brock each had a basket. Pelfrey hit his first 3-pointer of the game and had two field goals while Ford had a basket and Cameron Caudill hit two free throws. At the end of the 1st, Perry was up six, 17-11.
2nd QUARTER
Hazard got untracked offensively in the 2nd putting up 22 with Ford taking control of the lane scoring all three of the Bulldog’s two-point buckets and gotting to the line four times converting on all four. All other points came from outside the arc, as the Bulldogs hit four 3-pointers with Max Johnson splashing two, and Pelfrey and Samuel Shoptaw knocking down one a piece. Day had two baskets and was 2 of 2 at line for six, while Beverly continued to get to the basket and score in transition for six as well. At the half, Hazard was in the lead 33-31.
3rd QUARTER
The Dores had all hands on deck in the third as they surged back to out score the Bulldogs 16-11 in the period and take the lead on a Beverly three at the buzzer, 47-44. Brock led the charge with five, while Day, Fannin and McKenzie each had a basket a piece. Ford again held the Bulldogs close with six in the period for his co-team-high 18, while Pelfrey hit his third 3-pointer and Napier hit a pair of free throws.
4th QUARTER
The fourth was a tight, possession by possession defensive battle. Pelfrey hit his fourth 3-pointer and had a bucket for his 18, and Shoptaw had a basket, as they were the only two Bulldogs to score outside Napier’s game-winner. Beverly had two field goals for four and Day netted one basket.
| Scoring by Quarter | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total |
| HAZARD | 11 | 22 | 11 | 10 | 54 |
| PERRY CENTRAL | 17 | 14 | 16 | 6 | 53 |
INDIVIDUAL SCORING
HAZARD – Wade Pelfrey 18, Andrew Ford 18, Max Johnson 6, Jarrett Napier 5, Samuel Shoptaw 5, Cameron Caudill 2.
PERRY CENTRAL – Rydge Beverly 22, Tyler Day 12, Dylan Brock 7, Lanse McKenzie 7, Tyler Fannin 5.
Both teams will advance to the Regional Tournament, where Hazard is a favorite and Perry Central will be a tough, tough out for one of the other District winners.
The 14th Region Boys Draw will be Wednesday at 10:00 AM at Breathitt County High School. BSN will stream the draw LIVE, if our schedule allows on Wednesday morning.
