Paoli seniors Cody Travis and Rickey Jeandemange combined for 29 on Friday but it wasn’t enough as the Pugs season came to and end with a 65-51 loss to the Big Pasture Rangers.
Travis and R. Jeandemange only matched the output of senior Ranger Josh Sweat. Sweat poured in 29 points on his own to lead Big Pasture to Saturday’s consolation final in the Class B regional in Purcell.
Sweat hit a traditional three-point play to start the game and the Rangers never trailed. Sweat scored nine of his teams 15 first quarter points and Big Pasture looked to be on their way to a rout of the Pugs.
Paoli scored only 12 points in the opening half had only 16 with two minutes left in the third quarter before coming to life. The Pugs trailed 41-16 at that points as Sweat had 19 points.
Jerry Johnson got Paoli going as he hit four straight points and a traditional three pointer by R. Jeandemange cut the lead to 45-23 heading into the final quarter.
Paoli used that momentum as they went on a 13-3 run to start the fourth quarter. They run cut the Big Pasture lead to 12 and forced the Ranger coach to call a time out to regroup his troops.
R. Jeandemange had five points in the run and Travis six points as Paoli made a game of it.
After Sweat quieted the Paoli faithful with a pair of free throws and then a basket, Dustin Mooney drained a three pointer for the Pugs and brought the crowd back to life.
But the Rangers were too deep down the stretch as both Travis and R. Jeandemange fouled out for the Pugs and Big Pasture pulled away for a 65-51 win.
Travis had his second double-double in a row scoring 12 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. R. Jeandemange had a team high 17 points to lead the Pugs.
Sweat was joined by Dalton Tyler, 14, and Quinton Lawery, 11, as the players in double figures for the Rangers.
