Lynchburg-Clay falls to Zane Trace in Div. V District Quarterfinals

No. 12 seeded Lynchburg-Clay had to go away from Highland County Tuesday for their Division V SE District Quarterfinal game against the No. 5 seeded Zane Trace Pioneers, and in the game at Zane Trace High School the hosts defeated the Mustangs by 10 points at 47-37, seeing the LCHS season come to an end. 

Lynchburg-Clay (11-12) held a two-point advantage after the first quarter in the tournament contest by a 10-8 score as the Mustangs had six of those 10 points scored by Tanner Roberts, while scoring two points each were Quin Wells and Denver Clinton. 

LCHS trailed Zane Trace (18-5) at halftime following a second quarter where they were outscored 15-6 for a Zane Trace lead of 26-23. The Mustangs’ second quarter had four points scored by Clinton off two baskets and a two-point basket from Roberts. 

Each team scored 12 points in the third quarter with LCHS having five points off a 3-pointer and two-point basket from Elam Faust, and five points from Wells as he made two shots from the field and a free throw. Clinton scored two points by going 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. 

The fourth and final frame was a 12-9 advantage by the Pioneers with the nine LCHS points being scored by Wells, Faust and Harley Lewis with two points each and a free throw was made by Roberts. 

For the game, LCHS was led in the scoring column by Clinton with 10 points as he made three two-point baskets and was 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. Clinton added 12 rebounds for a double-double with two assists and four blocks. 

Clinton finishes his LCHS career with 1,202 career points. In his senior season Clinton scored 338 points, averaging 15.4 points per game in 22 games played, while also having 170 rebounds for the 2025-26 season. 

Wells totaled nine points for the Mustangs off four two-pointers and he was 1-of-1 from the free-throw line. Wells added five rebounds and one assist. 

Roberts also scored nine points with four two-point baskets and he was 1-of-2 in his free throw attempts. Roberts also collected six rebounds, one steal and six blocks. For the season Roberts totaled 83 blocks and 151 rebounds, while also scoring 256 points in his sophomore year. 

Faust totaled seven points with five rebounds and two assists for the game. Lewis finished the game with two points and one assist.

Trevor Niehaus finished the game with one rebound and three assists. Carter Faust collected one rebound. 

The team totals for the Mustangs were 14 two-point baskets, one 3-pointer, and they were 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. They also had 30 rebounds (seven offensive), nine assist, one steal and 10 blocks. 

Zane Trace was led by both Grady Stewart and Gunner McCullough with 15 points each. Also scoring points for the Pioneers were: Lantz Stevens (2), Roman Berry (7), Brice Johnson (6) and Hudson Williams (2). 

Totals for ZTHS were 13 two-point baskets, two 3-pointers, and they finished 15-of-20 from the free-throw line. 

ZTHS (18-5) will play next in the district semifinals on Tuesday, March 3 at Ohio University at the Convocation Center in Athens at 8 p.m. against the No. 4 seeded Eastern Warriors (20-3) of the SHAC. 

LCHS ends the season with an overall record of 11-12 with a SHAC Division I mark of 5-8. 

Seniors for the Mustangs are Elam Faust, Denver Clinton, Rhalstan Greene and Caden Boone. 

BOX SCORE
LCHS    10 16 12 09 — 37
ZTHS    08 15 12 12 — 47