GRC downs Bracken County 79-54, honors senior players, cheerleaders and dancers
Published 3:34 pm Monday, February 17, 2020
The George Rogers Clark Cardinals’ four senior basketball players, John Gwynne, 31, KJ Rucker, 4, Branson Webb, 21, and Lincoln Bush, 24, stand front and center as their team surrounds them following their 25-point win against Bracken County on seninior day. (Photo by Roman West)
Alayna Jordan was honored Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. (Photo by Roman West)
Isabella Richardson was honored Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. (Photo by Roman West)
Molly Franklin was honored Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. (Photo by Roman West)
Alycia Okolo was honored Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. (Photo by Roman West)
Channing Taulbee was honored Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. (Photo by Roman West)
Natalina Hughbanks was honored Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. (Photo by Roman West)
Liza Holley was honored Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. (Photo by Roman West)
Latavienne Nailing was honored Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. (Photo by Roman West)
Preslee Palmer was honored Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. (Photo by Roman West)
John Gwynne was honored Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. (Photo by Roman West)
KJ Rucker was honored Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. (Photo by Roman West)
Branson Webb was honored Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. (Photo by Roman West)
Lincoln Bush was honored Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. (Photo by Roman West)
George Rogers Clark held senior day festivities for its boys basketball team, cheerleaders and dancers Saturday afternoon before the Cardinals’ 79-54 win over the Bracken County Polar Bears.
Seniors honored were dancers Alayna Jordan and Isabella Richardson, cheerleaders Molly Franklin, Liza Holley, Natalina Hughbanks, Latavienne Nailing, Alycia Okolo, Preslee Palmer and Channing Taulbee and basketball players Lincoln Bush, John Gwynne, KJ Rucker and Branson Webb.
Once the celebration of the seniors was over, the Cardinals hit the floor running against another 10th Region team.
Seniors Gwynne and Webb, who have come off the bench this year, both got the opportunity to start alongside regular starters and fellow seniors Bush and Rucker against the Polar Bears.
“They’ve taught me a lot to help understand personalities. They’re all different in their own ways. They each bring something special to the table. I’m proud of each and every one of them,” GRC head coach Josh Cook said. “I’m the one who’s blessed because I’ve had the opportunity to get to be around them and get to coach them.”
Bush was the star of the night for the Cardinals, making eight of his 10 shots from the floor for 17 points while collecting 16 rebounds in the process.
The Cards came out on fire, scoring 26 points in the first quarter. They were able to pick up easy baskets by forcing turnovers and getting ahead in transition.
“We were really active today. We’re doing a good job on our traps. We’re not reaching as much on our traps. We’re using our length, using our bodies and rotating much better,” Cook said. “If we’re able to keep doing that it’ll be a style of play that will hopefully be effective the next couple of weeks.”
The style of play was effective for the rest of the game as GRC continued to force turnovers and push the pace.
After leading 48-24 at halftime, GRC kept the same style of play coming out of the break. They scored 23 points in the third quarter while holding the Polar Bears to 14 points.
The Cards outscored Bracken County once again in the fourth quarter, picking up a 79-54 win on senior day, something Cook hopes his seniors will remember.
“It’s awesome. For me to see them have fun, see them smile and have a memory they can always look back on is something I’m very proud of,” Cook said. “It’s something I hope they cherish and enjoy for the rest of their lives.”
GRC is back in action Thursday night as they travel to Bryan Station for their final road game of the season. The game is scheduled to tip at 7:30 p.m.
SCORING
Jerone Morton – 18
Lincoln Bush – 17
KJ Rucker – 12
Branson Webb – 6
Jared Wellman – 6
Reed Johnson – 5
Sammy Hernandez -4
Jeremiah Mundy-Lloyd – 4
Trent Edwards – 3
John Gwynne – 2
Kareem Guerrant – 2
