Paxton outshines Baker in high-scoring affair

BAKER — Paxton coach Jeff Bradley returned home to Baker in triumphant fashion Tuesday night as the Bobcats beat the Gators 78-70 to complete the season sweep over Baker.

“It’s hard to come back over here and play because it is your hometown,” Bradley said. “But it is fun.

“Gosh dang it, they shot our eyes out. We couldn’t back off their worst shooter and them not make it tonight."

The Gators (15-5) did hit 10 3-point baskets and at times it didn’t seem as if they would miss, but it wasn’t as if the Bobcats were ice cold.

Dan Geoghagan hit three shots from beyond the arch in the first quarter to help the Bobcats (18-4) to an early lead.

While Geoghagan was getting things going on the outside, post players Demetrius Moore and Chad Zessin were taking care of things in the paint as each scored six points in the first quarter.

The 6-foot-8 Moore proved to be the most reliable weapon for the Bobcats as he led the team in scoring with 21 points.

Meanwhile, it was Jarrod Batson doing all he could to keep the Gators close early.

Batson scored 11 of Baker’s 18 first-quarter points.

If not for Colton Henry’s eight second-quarter points for Baker, the Bobcats might have put the game out of reach early. But Paxton was unable to build on its three-point lead in the second quarter.

The Bobcats opened things up in the second half and led by 15 points midway through the fourth quarter.

That’s when Batson, who had not scored since the first quarter, again took the Gators on his back, scoring 12 points down the stretch to pull Baker to within five points with 14 seconds left in the game. But the Bobcats hit three free throws in the final seconds to hold on for the win.

Batson led all scorers with 23 points. Chad Donley added 20 for the Gators. Geoghagan and Shaq Jackson each had 17 for the Bobcats.

“There is always that schoolmate rivalry,” Baker coach Mike Martello said. “But playing them gets us ready to see the caliber of team that we are going to see hopefully in the playoffs.”

Paxton 21 16 17 24 – 78

Baker 18 16 12 24 – 70

PAXTON (78)

Demetrius Moore 21, Shaq Jackson 17, Dan Geoghagan 17, Josh McLaney 2, Brandon Garrett 3, Tyler Garrett 6, Sam Dunn 2, Chad Zessin 10 Totals 24 7 9-18 78.

BAKER (70)

Colton Henry 8, Justyn Lewis-Washington 5, Christian Mainor 6, Colten Jernigan 2, Chad Donley 20, David Frey 4, Matt Frey 2, Jarrod Batson 23. Totals 12 10 16-25 70.