CLASS A POWER SHOWCASE: Calhoun County pounds Manchester

ALBANY — The last matchup of the first day of the inaugural Class A Power Classic at Albany State took place between Marcus Shaw’s undefeated Calhoun County Cougars and George McElroy’s Manchester Blue Devils.

The Blue Devils were led by junior guard Jah’Nile Hill, while junior forward Rashun Williams spearheaded the Cougars’ starting lineup, anchored by a backcourt as feisty as it is young.

Calhoun County’s streak continued without much of a fight as the Cougars cruised to a 68-53 victory at the HPER Gymnasium. Williams finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds after a slow start in the first.

“We feel like we have a pretty balanced group,” Shaw said. “We’ve just got to keep trying to get better.”

The first quarter of action was back and forth as the Cougars jumped out to an early lead. Neither team took a significant lead in the turnover margin. It had been 10 days since Calhoun last played and Shaw said the offense seemed out of sync to start the game.

“We were a little rusty, sometimes that happens,” Shaw said. “We didn’t play our best basketball, but as long as we get a win, we’ll take it.”

Luckily for the home team, the energetic backcourt of freshman guard Jamaud Wiley and junior Kadarrious Holmes provided enough spark to keep Calhoun afloat. Holmes sank two three-pointers in the first quarter as Williams would bounce back in the second. By the time the first half was over — the last points came on a layup where Williams sliced into the lane and switched hands mid-air — the Cougars’ offense looked to be rounding into form with a nine-point lead.

“We’re one team, so if one guy’s struggling, we need the whole team to jump in and help where we can,” Shaw said. “Williams got going in the second half, which was big for us. Luckily, we have guards that can handle it when he’s not playing his best.”

As Calhoun’s versatile wingman struggled to get going offensively, he buckled down on defense as well as the boards, swatting two shots, altering several more and grabbing seven rebounds while finishing the first half with 10 points. Manchester’s Hill finished the first half with six points, while Jalen Leonard led the visitors with nine.

Leonard finished with 22 points, while Hill finished with 10.

Holmes added 13 points for the Cougars.

Calhoun will host Montgomery County next Wednesday in Edison.

In other games, Irwin County boys defeated GMC 59-56, the Clinch County boys downed Randolph-Clay 73-68, the Irwin County girls topped Randolph-Clay 43-35 and the Manchester girls defeated Calhoun County 53-31.