McClung scores at fever pitch in leading Gate City
Despite a 102-fever earlier in the day, McClung poured in a game-high 35 points to help Gate City overcome an early 13-point deficit to defeat Daniel Boone 75-66 at Snyder Gym on a night when the gym’s namesake, Bobby Snyder, was on hand to be recognized for a storied career that included 835 victories at Boones Creek and Daniel Boone.
Snyder smiled frequently while watching McClung, who had a couple of early turnovers. The Trailblazers student section let him know about it, chanting, “Overrated!” with the game less than 90 seconds old and again late in the first quarter. McClung looked over at the students during the second chant and waved his index finger.
“I said, ‘Give me a minute,’” he said after the game while posing for countless pictures and signing probably a triple-digit number of autographs. “Props to their crowd. They’re really good. I’m used to that stuff.”
Cars were parked along the highway 30 minutes before the girls’ game started. The gym seats 2,158 and people were standing about anywhere possible.
A 6-foot-1 senior guard headed to Georgetown, McClung’s highlights included a two-handed dunk via a baseline drive, a variety of off-the-dribble jumpers, a reverse double-clutch lay-in with the left hand and a driving double-clutch scoop he parlayed in to a three-point play.
Daniel Boone coach Chris Brown almost cringed when his students started razzing McClung. He loved the spirit, but wouldn’t have minded a sick or sleeping dog being left alone.
“I’m like – I’m trying to tell one of my assistants on the side, ‘Can we hush ‘em? Let’s just keep him in the cage a little bit longer so we don’t have to get him riled up,’” Brown said. “He’s that kind of player. He feeds off that.
“He’s a great player. I love watching him. He does such a great job with body control. You don’t see that from a lot of young guys.”
Zac Ervin, a 6-foot-5 junior wing, scored 27 points, including a transition one-handed slam dunk for the Blue Devils (3-0). He made three 3-pointers and all four of his free throw attempts.
Bradley Dean, a 6-foot-2 sophomore shooting guard, added 13 points.
“You know, I’m really proud of my teammates,” McClung said. “They knew I’m not feeling the best. … I didn’t perform the way I wanted to. That was a bad game – not for the points, but the percentage of shots and the turnovers. That was not good. I feel about as bad as I’ve ever felt – stomach bug and the flu.”
Gate City coach Scotty Vermillion wasn’t surprised to see the Boone hecklers seemingly increase McClung’s threshold for discomfort.
“He accepts a challenge,” Vermillion said. “The more people get on him like that, he shows up. He’s one you don’t wanna – well, you know – he’s a competitor, a fierce competitor.”
Boone (5-5) opened the game on a 20-7 run. Junior 6-foot-2 wing Chad Heglar (20 points) capped it with a 3-pointer on an assist from Eric Rigsby, who had scored seven of his 16 points by that point. The Trailblazers’ other versatile guard, senior Jared Lawson, scored 18 points.
Heglar made four 3-pointers. Rigsby and Lawson added two apiece.
“I’ve played those guys a lot over the summers,” McClung said. “They’re good players. They’ve got a good look (in their eyes), they got a great coach and props to them.”
Gate City led 35-31 at halftime. Heglar’s 10-foot transition pullup got Boone within 47-46 with 3:11 left in the third quarter, but McClung answered with a jumper off the dribble from the left corner and the Trailblazers were no closer than three points the rest of the way.
- Trey Williams | Sports Correspondent
- 9 hrs ago
Despite a 102-fever earlier in the day, McClung poured in a game-high 35 points to help Gate City overcome an early 13-point deficit to defeat Daniel Boone 75-66 at Snyder Gym on a night when the gym’s namesake, Bobby Snyder, was on hand to be recognized for a storied career that included 835 victories at Boones Creek and Daniel Boone.
Snyder smiled frequently while watching McClung, who had a couple of early turnovers. The Trailblazers student section let him know about it, chanting, “Overrated!” with the game less than 90 seconds old and again late in the first quarter. McClung looked over at the students during the second chant and waved his index finger.
“I said, ‘Give me a minute,’” he said after the game while posing for countless pictures and signing probably a triple-digit number of autographs. “Props to their crowd. They’re really good. I’m used to that stuff.”
Cars were parked along the highway 30 minutes before the girls’ game started. The gym seats 2,158 and people were standing about anywhere possible.
A 6-foot-1 senior guard headed to Georgetown, McClung’s highlights included a two-handed dunk via a baseline drive, a variety of off-the-dribble jumpers, a reverse double-clutch lay-in with the left hand and a driving double-clutch scoop he parlayed in to a three-point play.
Daniel Boone coach Chris Brown almost cringed when his students started razzing McClung. He loved the spirit, but wouldn’t have minded a sick or sleeping dog being left alone.
“I’m like – I’m trying to tell one of my assistants on the side, ‘Can we hush ‘em? Let’s just keep him in the cage a little bit longer so we don’t have to get him riled up,’” Brown said. “He’s that kind of player. He feeds off that.
“He’s a great player. I love watching him. He does such a great job with body control. You don’t see that from a lot of young guys.”
Zac Ervin, a 6-foot-5 junior wing, scored 27 points, including a transition one-handed slam dunk for the Blue Devils (3-0). He made three 3-pointers and all four of his free throw attempts.
Bradley Dean, a 6-foot-2 sophomore shooting guard, added 13 points.
“You know, I’m really proud of my teammates,” McClung said. “They knew I’m not feeling the best. … I didn’t perform the way I wanted to. That was a bad game – not for the points, but the percentage of shots and the turnovers. That was not good. I feel about as bad as I’ve ever felt – stomach bug and the flu.”
Gate City coach Scotty Vermillion wasn’t surprised to see the Boone hecklers seemingly increase McClung’s threshold for discomfort.
“He accepts a challenge,” Vermillion said. “The more people get on him like that, he shows up. He’s one you don’t wanna – well, you know – he’s a competitor, a fierce competitor.”
Boone (5-5) opened the game on a 20-7 run. Junior 6-foot-2 wing Chad Heglar (20 points) capped it with a 3-pointer on an assist from Eric Rigsby, who had scored seven of his 16 points by that point. The Trailblazers’ other versatile guard, senior Jared Lawson, scored 18 points.
Heglar made four 3-pointers. Rigsby and Lawson added two apiece.
“I’ve played those guys a lot over the summers,” McClung said. “They’re good players. They’ve got a good look (in their eyes), they got a great coach and props to them.”
Gate City led 35-31 at halftime. Heglar’s 10-foot transition pullup got Boone within 47-46 with 3:11 left in the third quarter, but McClung answered with a jumper off the dribble from the left corner and the Trailblazers were no closer than three points the rest of the way.
