CLAYTON – Charles Henderson came up just short of upsetting second-ranked Barbour County Friday night, falling 47-44.

The Trojans looked to be hitting on all cylinders early taking a 6-0 lead just minutes into the contest. Tyler Mitchell hit two jump shots and Devin Davenport added a lay-in to lead the run.

Barbour County answered back late in the opening quarter to tie the game at 6-6 on a Jashawn Ford jumper with 1:15 remaining in the quarter. Joshua Noel hit a three-pointer just before Mitchell’s tip-in and the buzzer. The Trojans led 11-6.

The Trojans heated up in the second quarter. CHHS forced two Jaguar turnovers and Noel capitalized with consecutive buckets to extend the Trojans lead to 18-6.

The teams traded baskets until Mitchell once again scored in the waning seconds, this time on a 15-footer with 30 seconds remaining. Charles Henderson led at the break 24-12.

The Trojans held Barbour County star Takwain Whigham to just a single point in the first half.

“I thought we did a good job not giving them open looks in the first half,” said head coach Carl Hollis.

That would not be the case in the second half, however. Whigham opened the third quarter with a three-pointer and that was all that was needed to fire up the Jaguar offense.

Barbour County fired away from behind the arc, knocking down seven three-pointers in the final two periods.

“Our defense didn’t step up in the second half,” Hollis said. “We’ve got to take care of the ball and put the game away.”

In a reversal of fortunes between Whigham and Mitchell, the Trojans leading scorer was held to just three points in the second half. Mitchell would tally 11 for the contest.

Charles Henderson scattered baskets throughout the third quarter and to start the final frame to keep things close but could not contain the high-powered Barbour County team late.

With 1:47 left and the Jaguars leading by four, 41-37, Willie Eutsey hauled in a rebound and threw down a dunk that erupted the home crowd and knocked the wind out of the Trojans sails.

Barbour County picked off a pass on Charles Henderson’s ensuing possession and Whigham added the explanation mark with another trey.

Whigham scored 20 on the night.

For the Trojans, DeQuante Shockley scored 10 while Noel added eight.