For a moment Thursday, you could’ve wondered why in the world Campbell County’s Xavier Fancher didn’t start.
Fancher preferred coming off the bench. He scored 23 points in the Camels’ 97-49 running-clock win over Bracken County in the Boys 10th Region quarterfinal in The Fieldhouse at Mason County.
“Everyone has their nights like this,” Fancher said. “It’s a team game. At any time, anybody can score and get buckets. I like bringing the energy off the bench.”
For much of Thursday, it seemed Fancher’s power equaled anything Duke Energy put out: 9-of-15 from the field, 4-of-7 from 3, three rebounds, three assists.
Campbell County coach Brent Sowder defended saving Fancher.
“You always want a guy off the bench you know can be dynamite and brings offensive punch you’re not getting with your first five,” Sowder said. “And Xavier is that guy.”
Jayden Augsback had a good night, too: 15 points on 5-of-5 from 3, one rebound, two assists – in 17 minutes and a second of playing time.
“When I shoot with confidence, that’s what happens,” Augsback said.
Fancher’s and Augsback’s nights were not the only reason Campbell County (24-6) is still playing. Garyn Jackson had 13 points and six assists, and Connor Weinel added 12 points, nine rebounds.
You might want to have a second or third cup of coffee because it takes a while to describe the Camels’ night.
Campbell County’s 97 points were a team-high this season and the most since a 110-107, double-overtime loss to Boyd County on Jan. 21, 2023 and the most in a win since a 100-38 victory over Bracken County on Jan. 29, 2019.
There was more Camel goodness: 38 field goals on 26 assists; a 46-26 advantage in rebounding, 55-7 in bench points, 26-7 in points off turnovers, 23-2 in second-chance scoring – and just four turnovers.
“I liked how we worked the ball; we got good shots in the half-court,” Sowder said. “We got out a lot in transition, too, which was our plan.”
Bracken County finished at 11-20. Coach Terry King thought “progress” was an accurate one-word summary because the Polar Bears started 0-11 and finished 11-9.
“They never gave up; they played hard, (came) to practice every day, stuck it out,” King said.
Campbell County started with an 8-0 lead in less than two minutes of the first quarter, which Bracken County reduced to 11-9 some four minutes later on Noah Nelson’s eight points. (He led the Polar Bears with 17 points.)
The rest of the way? All Camels, all night – a 22-5 run in the second quarter’s first 4:23, a 54-28 halftime lead, and 80-36 after three quarters.
Campbell County’s reward: four-time defending region champion and 2022 state titlist George Rogers Clark, a 74-51 quarterfinal winner over Pendleton County, in Monday’s 7:30 p.m. semifinal. (The Cardinals beat the Camels, 63-60, Dec. 1 in Claryville.) In the first semifinal at 6 p.m., Mason County meets Harrison County.
One of Thursday’s postgame topics was Fancher’s and Augsback’s backyard shooting contests. Augsback said the games go back-and-forth – a statement with which Fancher playfully disagreed.
“He lied a little bit,” Fancher said. “It’s not really back-and-forth; it’s usually me. It’s close, though; he’s a good shooter, but I always give him the work.”
CAMELS 97, POLAR BEARS 49
BRACKEN CO. — 14-14-8-13 — 49
CAMPBELL CO. — 21-33-26-17 — 97
BRACKEN COUNTY (49) —Archibald 15, Buchanan 6, Nelson 17, Feldhaus 2, Kirk 5, Jefferson 2, Whitten 2.
CAMPBELL COUNTY (97) —Daniel 4, Augsback 15, Dowds 7, Sorgenfrei 5, Fancher 23, Jackson 13, Johnson 7, Crowley 6, Smith 5, Weinel 12.
Game Stats
Field Goals: BC 19-55, CC 38-72.
3-Pointers: BC 7-21, CC 14-32.
Free Throws: BC 4-4, CC 7-11.
Rebounds: BC 26, CC 46.
Assists: BC 5, CC 26
Turnovers: BC 12, CC 4
Fouls: BC 7, CC 4
Records: Bracken County 11-20, Campbell County 24-6.