Shelbyville Times-Gazette: High School Sports: Slow start too much for Vikes to overcome (02/05/10)

Community guard Austin Thurber (3) takes it strong to the basket from the baseline in district action Thursday night against host Forrest.
(T-G Photo by Jimmy Jones)

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CHAPEL HILL--Basketball is simply not a sport that can be played at a fluid level on an intermittent basis and the Community Vikings can readily attest to that fact after an extremely slow start manifested itself into a 62-49 District 9-A loss to Forrest on Thursday night.

The Vikings (6-17, 4-8 9-A) took the floor after an eight-day absence from the hardwood due to the recent snowstorm and the rust was readily apparent in the first quarter. Austin Thurber put the visitors ahead with a 3-pointer in the opening minute and then the offense shut down completely to trail 10-3 at the horn.

The Rockets came out firing in the second period with Dane Leonard catching fire with seven points and Mark Pope adding four to pace a 27-17 advantage at intermission.

The Vikings came to life a bit behind six points by sophomore Jake Leverette and a trey apiece by Kyle Dyer and Sammy Bryant.

Forrest rained in four 3-pointers by Kyle Gugger, Justin McCord, and two by Pope, to lead by as many as 16 in the third frame and go ahead 45-27 at the buzzer.

But the Vikings have proven all year that they are a team that simply will not go away and they lived up to that trend again.

Community senior point guard Cody Pierce drained a shot from behind the arc seconds into the final quarter, then added a quick basket moments later after a steal to lead a seven-point unanswered run and cut the deficit to 45-34.

A bucket by Kyle Dyer cut the lead to under double digits but the Vikings were unable to get any closer as the Rockets made good on 11-of-13 free throws down the stretch to close out the win.

Forrest had an impressive six different players score from behind the arc in the contest.

Leverette tied for game-high honors with the Rockets' Gugger with 16 points.

Pope added 15 for the Blue and White.

Cody Pierce ended the game with 13 for the Vikings.

Community connected on 12-of-16 from the charity stripe. Forrest was 11-for-20.

Community welcomes Moore County to Unionville tonight in another district clash at 7:30.