Lancers down cold shooting Raiders

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 23 December 2014 at 12:00 am

Plagued by ice cold shooting, Barker dropped a 37-32 decision to host Elba this afternoon in a non league game.

Setting an ominous tone, Barker shot a dismal 4 of 33 from the field in the first half but incredibly trailed by just one, 12-11, at the break.

In fact, Barker, after opening the game with 2 of 28 shooting, did grab the lead at 11-10 late in the second quarter after a layup by Thomas Callaghan and a layup off a turnover by Josh Mead.

Callaghan had eight in the half which saw Barker also run into soul trouble as Christpher Sweeney, the Raiders only returning starter, spent much of the time on the bench saddled with three personal fouls.

Elba regained the lead for good at 12-11 on a layup off a turnover by Jacob Oddo in the final seconds.

The Barker defense forced Elba into a rash of turnovers on the afternoon but the Raiders could not capitalize at the offensive end.

“Both teams struggled offensively,” said Barker Coach Dave Carson. “I was very happy with the way we played defensively but we just have to finish inside and shoot better from the perimeter.”

Barker did stay within two at 18-16 midway through the third period after a layup and a three by Nate Luckman but Elba answered with a 10-3 run to close the period and move out to a 28-19 advantage. John Hochmuth tallied six and Kyle Andrews four to lead that Lancers surge.

A three by Sweeney helped pull Barker back to within five, 28-23, at the outset of the final period but the Raiders would get no closer.

The Lancers though countered with a 6-2 run on tallies by Dakota Dillon, Andrews and Richard Flores to regain a nine pout, 34-25, lead with less than four minutes to go.

Barker did made the final score close as threes by Sweeney and Luckman did pull the Raiders back to within five twice in the final 40 seconds, at 34-29 and again at 37-32.

Hochmuth finished with a game high 14 and Andrews netted 8 to lead Elba.

Luckman had 10, Sweeney and Callaghan 8 each and Mead and Sean Benoit 3 apiece for Barker which slips to 1-4.