Paris’ youth movement nearly flips the script before Bourbon’s veterans respond

 

IVAN K. RICE I doctorofsports@aol.com

 

PARIS – The 196th meeting between the Paris Greyhounds and Bourbon County Colonels delivered everything a rivalry game promises and then some. The electricity inside Earl E. Redwine Gymnasium felt like it had been building for decades, not days, as both fan bases packed the stands, trading chants, stomping bleachers, and reacting to every whistle as if a district title were on the line. And in many ways, it felt like one. Rivalry games have a way of rewriting records, ignoring logic, and amplifying emotion, and Saturday night was no exception. After 36 minutes of swings, surges, and storylines, it took an extra period for the Colonels to finally escape with a 79-75 overtime victory over a Paris team that played with a level of heart and toughness far beyond what its 2-12 record suggests.

 

Transfers, emotions, and a charged atmosphere

Coach Eli Strait’s extremely young Greyhounds, three eighth graders, a freshman, and a sophomore playing the majority of the minutes, showed no fear against a more seasoned Bourbon County squad. The Colonels leaned on a senior and four juniors after senior Nash Wilson, who had been dominating early, left with what appeared to be a season‑ending injury. His absence changed the entire feel of the game. Paris had no answer for him early, but once he went down, the Hounds sensed an opening and attacked it.

Layered on top of the youth-versus-experience storyline was the emotional subplot that made this rivalry meeting even more personal. Four Colonels wore Paris uniforms last season and one two years ago. One even played a game for the Hounds earlier this year. Meanwhile, a current Greyhound spent last season in a Bourbon County jersey. Every one of them had something to prove, and every one of them played like it.

“We knew it was going to be an emotional game for some of our guys having grown up at Paris and to now be playing against them,” said Bourbon County Coach Allen Martin. “Our message before the game was to play with passion but not let the atmosphere take us out of our focus.”

The atmosphere, though, was impossible to ignore. Every Bourbon run was met with a roar from the County side. Every Paris answer sent the home bleachers into a frenzy. And when the Colonels used a late push, plus a few daggers from senior Noah Earlywine, to extend their all‑time series lead to 102-94, it felt like another chapter added to a rivalry that has defined generations. Bourbon has now won five straight and 12 of the last 16 after the series once sat deadlocked at 94–94.

 

Colonels jump ahead, Hounds punch back

Bourbon struck first with a putback from junior Mark Perraut, a tone‑setting play that hinted at the size advantage the Colonels hoped to exploit. Paris answered with four straight from Bourbon transfer Braylon Francis, who played with the kind of edge only a rivalry can bring out.
The Colonels responded with a 15-4 burst, highlighted by junior Dailyn Fields, who played for Paris two years ago, and Wilson, to build an 18-8 lead that looked like the beginning of a runaway.

But Paris refused to let the moment swallow them. Eighth grader DeVaughn Hutsell, playing with the swagger of a senior, buried two baseline threes and sliced through the lane for a layup to spark a 10-2 run. The gym erupted. The Hounds were within 20-18, and suddenly the Colonels’ early comfort vanished.

“We executed early and jumped out to a big lead, but we got lax on defense and let them hit some 3’s,” Martin said. “That energized their kids and gave them confidence.”

 

Hutsell takes over, Paris seizes momentum

Hutsell wasn’t done. He kept firing, kept scoring, and kept forcing Bourbon to adjust. Francis continued to dominate the glass, and before long Paris had turned a 10‑point deficit into a 23-20 lead. Hutsell scored 11 of his career‑high 20 points in a three‑minute stretch that had the home crowd shaking the rafters.

Bourbon countered behind Perraut and Paris transfer Quinton Rice, but the Greyhounds, powered by Hutsell, Francis, and eighth grader Keegan Strait, kept swinging. The Hounds surged ahead 33-26, and the building felt like it might lift off the ground. Bourbon steadied itself with six straight from Perraut and a pull‑up from another Paris transfer, senior Myles Heilig‑Lee, tying the game at 34-34. But Paris closed the half with a Hutsell three and another Francis putback to take a stunning 39-34 lead into the locker room.

This was the same Bourbon team that beat Scott County. The same Scott County that beat Paris by 65. And yet, here the Hounds were leading their rival at halftime.

Earlywine awakens in the third

Bourbon opened the third with a 7-2 run to tie it at 41-41. Francis briefly put Paris back in front, but then Earlywine, silent in the first half, exploded. He scored eight points in one minute, a personal run that flipped the game’s momentum and reminded everyone why he’s the Colonels’ leading scorer.

Paris, however, didn’t wilt. Freshman Brayden Strait drilled a three, and younger brother Keegan calmly sank two free throws to close the quarter at 53-51. The Hounds were still right there.

 

Fourth quarter fireworks

The fourth quarter became a heavyweight exchange. Paris took the lead on two free throws from eighth grader Sam Wilson. Zarion Snowden, who was wearing a Paris uniform to start the season, answered with an old‑fashioned three‑point play. Francis responded with a pull‑up jumper. Bourbon countered with a 9-3 run capped by a huge three from sophomore Malachi Buchanan to go up 64-59 with 2:24 left.

But Paris, young as they are, showed no fear. Wilson scored twice in the final minute, first a layup, then a putback, to tie the game at 65-65. Bourbon’s last‑second shot missed, and the rivalry marched into overtime.

 

Colonels Control Overtime

Earlywine opened OT with a bucket, and Perraut added a free throw for a 68-65 lead. Brayden Strait drilled a step‑back three to tie it again, but Snowden’s free throws made it 70-68, and Bourbon never trailed again. Earlywine, Fields, and Perraut delivered the closing blows, using their size, strength, and experience to finally outlast the young Hounds.

“Paris’ kids played harder than we did,” Martin said. “They had something to prove, and I was impressed with how they fought. Ultimately, our size and speed as the bigger, older team won out.”

Coach Strait, returning after a three‑game absence, couldn’t hide his pride.

“We were undermanned tonight, and the kids played so hard. We aren’t big fans of moral victories, but it’s hard to be upset when you get that kind of effort.”

Game stats

Fields led the Colonels with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Perraut finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Despite a slow start, Earlywine turned in another monster performance with 14 points, a game‑high 15 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists. Snowden added 10 points, and Wilson, before leaving with his injury, contributed 6 points and 6 rebounds. Rice also scored 6, Heilig‑Lee added 4, and Buchanan rounded out the Bourbon scoring with 3.

For Paris, Francis delivered a huge night with 22 points and a career‑best 14 rebounds. Hutsell followed with 20 points, including four made three‑pointers. Brayden Strait posted 15 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals, while Keegan Strait added 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. Sam Wilson matched that with 8 points and 5 rebounds, and junior Tyler Jenkins closed the scoring for the Hounds with 2 points.

The two teams will meet again on February 7, which also serves as Hall of Fame Night for the Colonels.

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The Greyhounds (2-12, 0-2) return to action tomorrow night when they host Montgomery County in a key 40th District matchup. On Friday, top‑ranked George Rogers Clark, the No. 1 team in the 10th Region, comes to town for another marquee showdown.

Bourbon County (11-7, 1-2), winners of four of their last five, hits the road tonight for a trip to Breathitt County. The Colonels return home tomorrow to face Pendleton County before wrapping up a demanding three‑games‑in‑three‑days stretch on Wednesday when Menifee County visits Russ Day Gym.

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See the entire story and more photos in this Thursday’s Bourbon County Citizen sports section. 

–ALL GAME PHOTOS TAKEN BY KRISTA BARNETT–