LUCASVILLE — Clay missed its first 13 field goal attempts and never recovered Tuesday night, losing to Paint Valley 54-42 in a Division IV Sectional Semifinal at Valley High School.

The Panthers trailed 8-0 after the first quarter, and could not get within four points after falling behind early.

"We just didn't make any shots," Clay head coach Jack Trainer said. "We got looks that we're comfortable with and just couldn't make anything."

Neither team shot better than 30 percent from the field, but the Bearcats finished with a 51-34 advantage on the boards and an 18-point edge from the free throw line to secure the win and a date with Western Pike for the sectional title.

Paint valley made 22 of 32 free throw attempts including an 18-for-22 performance in the fourth quarter when Clay was making its last attempts to come back.

"They came back and had to foul us to try to catch up," Paint Valley head coach Harold Bates said. "We've struggled a little bit from the free throw line before but tonight we stood up there and made the free throws when we had to."

Logan Markko led Paint Valley with 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocks. Matt Workman added 14 points and 10 rebounds while Aaron Claytor scored eight.

Paint Valley stretched its lead out to a game-high 17 with five minutes to play before the Panthers pulled together and made one last run.

With a trapping press that forced nine fourth quarter turnovers, Clay came back and after a mid-air adjustment and basket by Jon Valentine, Clay was back within seven with 2: 30 to play.

The Panthers couldn't pull any closer, missing three consecutive free throws and four of five as Paint Valley extended its lead.

"The kids really fought back," Trainer said. "We were shooting free throws to get (the deficit) to five. I kind of like us there. In the same situation with Green, we came back to win it in overtime."

After its lead was cut to seven, Paint Valley closed the game out by making 7 of 8 free throws to escape with the win.

"Clay's a very well-coached team and they gave us all we could handle," Bates said. "Fortunately for us they didn't shoot very well this evening."

Clay did not have a player make it into double figures. Cody Bussler led the Panthers with nine points with Chaz Lawson and T.J. Mershon scoring seven each.

"I thought we got good minutes from everyone we put in, especially late," Trainer said. "We had to push the tempo and it worked out well for us. It wasn't a lack of effort early—we just didn't make anything. We had just dug too far of a hole."

Paint Valley will take on Western at 6:15 March 3 with a sectional title and a trip to the Convo on the line.

This contest was the final game for Clay seniors Mershon, Brandon Puckett, Jacob Crapyou, and Shawn Ratcliff.

Paint Valley 8 10 12 24 — 54

Clay 0 10 9 23 — 42

Paint Valley—Markko 6 4 16, Workman 4 6 14, Long 2 4 9, Claytor 2 3 8, Hamilton 1 4 6, Stratton 0 1 1. Totals 15 22 54.

Clay—Bussler 4 0 9, Lawson 3 1 7, Mershon 3 1 7, Valentine 2 1 6, Burchett 2 0 4, Graham 2 0 4, Caseman 1 1 3, Ratcliff 1 0 2. Totals 18 4 42.

3-pointers—Paint Valley 2 (Long, Claytor); Clay 2 (Bussler, Valentine).

Records—Paint Valley 7-14; Clay 6-15.쇓