Final: Ballard 71, Clark County 48

Updating the third game of the Sweet Sixteen quarterfinals:

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• No. 2 Ballard rolled to its 25th consecutive win in impressive fashion. The Bruins used a 23-0 run in the second quarter to put it away. They advance to the final four for the first time since they were state runners-up to Mason County in 2003. Twany Beckham led Ballard with 22 points and 8 rebounds. Preston Knowles had 18 points for Clark County, but hit only 7 of 20 shots. As a team the Cardinals shot 26% (13-for-50).
• Two-minute warning: Ballard is ahead 67-45 and has had it on automatic pilot for a while.
• After three quarters, Ballard leads 58-29. Clark County, suffocated by the Bruins defense, is shooting 22% (9-for-41). Ballard is shooting 55% (26-for-47).
• Ballard is cruising along with a 54-24 lead with 3 minutes left in the third quarter.Twany Beckham already has 22 points and 7 rebounds. He’s 11-for-12 from the field (most from point-blank range). Preston Knowles has 11 points for Clark County. He’s 4-for-12 shooting.
• Photo: Johonne Hamilton soars for a rebound in the first half last night.
• HALFTIME SCORE: Ballard 45, Clark County 17. The Bruins delivered the knockout punch with a 23-0 run that turned a 14-13 lead into a 37-13 runaway. Twany Beckham and Johonne Hamilton had 8 points apiece in the flurry. Beckham has 18 points and 6 rebounds. Ballard shot 61% (20-for-33) in the half. Clark County is shooting 19% (5-for-26). Preston Knowles leads the Cards with 8 points.
• It keeps getting worse for Clark County. Ballard has run off 18 consecutive points to lead 32-12 with 3:48 to go before halftime. Twany Beckham has 16 points. Ballard’s defense has forced 9 turnovers and has Clark County caught up in its high-speed pace.
• Twany Beckham is putting on a show for Ballard. He has 14 points, 4 rebounds and a couple nifty assists to help the Bruins to a 26-12 lead with 5 minutes left in the half. Clark County closed to within 14-13 on a Preston Knowles’ three to start the quarter, but Ballard has had 12 rapid-fire points. The highlights were an alley-oop fast break pass from Wes Cox to Beckham for a layup, and a no-look assist from Beckham to Johonne Hamilton for a gimme.
• Preston Knowles hit a three-pointer to cap an 8-0 run by Clark County to close the quarter and cut Ballard’s lead to 14-10.
• South Alabama coach and former UK Wildcat John Pelphrey is here, presumably scouting Knowles.
• Ballard is on top 14-4 with 1:30 left in the first quarter, led by Twany Beckham’s 8 points and 3 rebounds. Clark County has missed 9 of 10 shots. Ballard is pressing and trapping all over the court, and has forced 5 turnovers.
• Clark County is off to a rocky start. It missed its first 6 shots from the field and first two free throws before finally scoring. Ballard leads 10-2 midway through the first quarter. Twany Beckham has 6 points for the Bruins.