Written by: Raeonna Stamper Calhoun Middle School's boys' basketball team hosted Pleasants County Middle on Monday, January 5th. Both games filled the gym with intense energy as both the A and B teams faced a close contest with the Minutemen. After a hard fight in both great games, the Red Devils fell short in the last few seconds. The opening seconds of B team showed that neither team was willing to give up easily. Both teams played with aggression, having a handful of fouls called in the tight game. Every possession mattered as the score remained neck and neck throughout the game. Mason Laughlin lead the team with 9 points, fighting hard each second of the game alongside his teammates. While the Minutemen’s strong inside defense often created challenges, the Devils made it up later by fast break layups. Unfortunately, after Pleasants County scored the last shot, Calhoun fell short just by 2 points, leaving the score 21-23, leaving the B Team with their first loss, (excluding a forfeit). From the opening tipoff, the A team's game was fast paced and full of excitement, along with B team, many fouls were called, intense ball handling, nail-biting passes, and players diving all over the floor, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats. Braydon Hardway led the team with a double-double, having 18 points and 10 rebounds. A tough press defense performed by the Minutemen made it difficult for the Devils to finish at the basket, but the Devils continued to push through every time with each possession. The Devils recorded many steals and played with aggression. In the last second of the game, Hardway tied the score up to 36-36 at the buzzer, continuing the game into a nerve-racking overtime. After a long and hard-fought game, the Devils unfortunately fell short by 3 points, leaving the final score 36-39.