Pilots’ open season with pair of losses to Falcons, Comets

After nearly a two month delay due to COVID, the 2020-2021 high school basketball season officially got underway in Kentucky last week. The Fulton County High School Pilots opened the season with a pair of losses, having traveled to Clinton to take on the Hickman County High School Falcons Jan. 5, and then hosting the Carlisle County High School Comets Jan. 8.

Hickman Co. 67

Fulton Co. 60

Three-point shooting and free throws cost the Fulton County High School Pilots a chance to open the season with a road win against their fellow First District opponent, the Hickman County High School Falcons Jan. 5.

The Pilots managed to put up 20 more shots than the Falcons, shooting 26-of-69 from the field, including 5-of-21 from behind the three-point line. The Pilots were also 3-of-6 from the free throw line.

The Falcons shot 24-of-49 from the field, including 9-of-23 from the perimeter, and 10-of-13 at the free throw line.

Junior DiAvian Bradley led the Pilots in scoring, going 8-of-13 from the field and 1-of-1 from the free throw line for 17 points.

Chrissawn Gordon had 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting, DK Gossett had 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting, including 2-of-7 from the perimeter, and Josh Cole had nine points on 3-of-8 shooting including 2-of-5 from the perimeter.

Pilot Hayden Murphy had seven points on 3-of-10 shooting with 1-of-5 from the perimeter, and Dylan Hammond had three points on 1-of-8 shooting.

Broc Bridges contributed two points on 1-of-7 shooting.

The Pilots grabbed a total of 34 rebounds, with Bradley also leading the way with eight. Also grabbing boards were Gordon with seven, Hammond with six, Bridges with five, Murphy and Gossett with three each, and Cole and Omarion Pierce with one rebound a piece.

Jackson Midyett led the Falcons in scoring with 22 points, going 7-of-13 from the field, with six of those field goals being from behind the three-point line. Kelen Johnson followed with 20 points, Eli Prince with 13, Garrett Ward with seven, and Micah Naranjo with five.

The Falcons pulled down 45 rebounds, with Prince grabbing a team-high 16, followed by Johnson with 11, Naranjo with seven, Ward and Midyett with four each, and Cameron Johnson with three.

Carlisle Co. 64

Fulton Co. 56

A lackluster second quarter offensively was the difference in the Pilots’ match-up versus the Carlisle County High School Comets, and led to the second loss of the week for Fulton County. The Pilots shot 23-of-57 from the field, including 2-of-18 from behind the three point line.

The Pilots got off to a fast start and led 17-12 after the first quarter, but only scored four points in the second quarter to trail 25-21 at halftime.

The Pilots’ offense regained their rhythm in the third quarter by scoring 15 points, but still trailed 45-36 at the end of the quarter.

The Pilots outscored the Comets in the final quarter but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit and the Comets came away victorious 64-56.

The Pilots were 8-of-13 from the free throw line, with Bradley and Gordon each going 2-of-2, Cole 2-of-3, Murphy and Gossett 1-of-2 a piece, and Hammond 0-of-2.

Leading the way scoring wise for the Pilots was Gordon, who had 14 points, on 6-of-11 shooting.

Other Pilots in the scoring column included Hammond with 13 on 6-of-9 shooting, including 1-of-1 from the perimeter; Murphy with 12 on 4-of-7 shooting, including 1-of-6 from the perimeter; Bridges with six on 3-of-4 shooting; Gossett with five on 2-of-4 shooting; Cole with four on 1-of-1 shooting; and Bradley with two.

The Pilots managed to grab 29 rebounds, with Murphy leading the way with eight, Bridges with six, Bradley and Hammond with four each, Gossett with three, Gordon with two, and Pierce and Cole with one each.

The Pilots are scheduled for a rematch with the Hickman Co. Falcons Jan. 12 in Clinton at 6 p.m. in the First Regional All-A Classic. The Pilots will return home to host Paducah Tilghman Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m.