— Photo by TIM MANDELL Owen County senior Justin Toole drives past Eminence’s Erick Shannon for a basket on Jan. 31 at Owen County High School. Toole scored a game-high 22 points in the 58-53 victory.

The Rebels didn’t need to wait long to get revenge for their double overtime semifinal loss in the Region 8 All A Classic.
Just four days after Eminence eliminated Owen County from the tournament — on three free throws with 1.1 seconds remaining — the two teams met again on Jan. 31 at Owen County High School.
This time around the Rebels closed the door on Eminence, beating the Warriors 58-53.
And this time around, fouls were never a factor.
Until the final 1:22 when Eminence was forced to foul, the teams had combined to shoot just four free throws and neither team reached the bonus until the final 30 seconds.
Most of the game was played around the perimeter, where the two teams combined to hit 20 three-point shots.
Through the first three quarters there were seven ties and nine lead changes, as the teams entered the final period tied 43-43.
Trailing 45-43, the Rebels took the lead on a 3-pointer by Aaron Sutherland.
Randy Stalker — who made the game-winning free throws in the tournament — nailed a 3 to give the lead right back to Eminence.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Jeremy Kermicle and Justin Toole put Owen County in front 52-48.
A 3 by Eminence’s Erick Shannon cut the lead to 52-51, but Owen County’s Glenn Smith responded, nailing a short jumper for a 54-51 lead.
After an Eminence turnover, Toole was fouled in the act of shooting a 3-pointer.
The senior made two shots, giving the Rebels a 56-51 lead with 1:22 remaining.
Eminence pulled within 56-53 on a shot by Zach Young, but since neither team was in foul trouble, Owen County was able to run the clock down to 30.3 seconds, before Eminence picked up enough fouls to send the Rebels to the free throw line.
Toole, who scored a game-high 22 points, made a pair of free throws for a 58-53 lead.
Eminence missed on the other end of the floor and the Rebels were able to run out the clock.
Kermicle also scored in double figures for the Rebels, netting 12 points.
With the victory, Owen County (9-12) surpasses last season’s win total (the Rebels were 8-18 during the 2004-05 season).
Owen County played Tuesday at Williamstown and is back in action at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at home against Oldham County.
The junior varsity game begins at 6 p.m.
Owen County 58,
Eminence 53
Eminence 14 14 15 10 — 53
OCHS 15 15 13 15 — 58
Eminence (53)
Dominique Harris 17, Randy Stalker 14, Josh Lyons 6, Lyle Butcher 5, Erick Shannon 5, Zach Young 4, Nelson Hedges 2.
Owen County (58)
Justin Toole 22, Jeremy Kermicle 12, Glenn Smith 9, Aaron Sutherland 6, Danny O’Toole 4, Cameron Logan 3, Clint Hamilton 2.

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