Golden Falcons fall in season opener to Trojans

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on November 19, 2014 1:48 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock head coach Dave Elmore didn't get the debut he hoped for in a 52-40, season-opening loss to South Johnston on Tuesday evening.

But then again, he had four players who had just finished their football season and picked up a basketball twice coming into Elmore's first game as head coach. The group of Damien Darden, Jimmy Ellis, Tyrique Ford and Jonathan Dudley weren't able to log the minutes Elmore wanted to get them.

Ellis is further limited with a sprained ankle.

"I'm not making excuses, but it's just how it is," Elmore said. "These guys aren't in game shape yet and we're working to get them there, but it takes time."

The Golden Falcons, instead, turned to Bryce Jordan, Cameron Kornegay and Ian Best to fill the void. Jordan led the team with 10 points, while Best and Kornegay each had eight.

Aycock played an inspired second half and whittled a 10-point deficit to two early in the fourth, but could never overtake the Trojans.

"I think we put so much energy into that comeback just to get it to where it was, that we didn't have enough the tank to put it over the top," Elmore said. "But the kids fought and I can't take that away from them."

The Golden Falcons shot of 15 of 28 from the free throw line and were outscored 21-0 behind the 3-point arc. Alan Johnson led SJ with 16 points. Gage Massengill and Blake Tart added nine apiece.