Evans rules its rival

Even the average fan could see a barn burner in the making during Evans' 50-48 win over Greenbrier on Tuesday night.

The lead changed hands eight different times and Evans never led by more than five points.

However, Evans forward Wes Wuchte couldn't see much at all.

Wuchte, one of two starting juniors on the squad, took the court against Greenbrier on Tuesday with half of his vision blurred by a case of pink eye.

"Brandon (Durr) gave it to me. I almost wanted to punch him," Wuchte said. "The heat got to it, and it started itching, but if you're a basketball player you can play through it."

Wuchte ignored the itching and irritation and managed to lead the Knights with 12 points.

Evans, who defeated Greenbrier by 16 and 5 points earlier in the year, had a little more trouble with the pesky Wolfpack defense the third time around.

"They've improved tremendously since we played them last," Evans coach Kevin Kenny said. "We worked on beating the half-court trap, but it gave us some trouble."

Wolfpack freshman point guard Bryan Andrews led a half-court trap that plagued the Evans backcourt. Andrews turned several steal and fast-break opportunities into a game-high 16 points.

"He did an outstanding job tonight," Greenbrier coach Casey Dees said. "He and (Josh) Dailey kept us in the ball game the first half."

Although the Knights' offense faltered, it didn't completely crumble. Greenbrier tied the game three times in the fourth quarter only to surrender the lead to a Wuchte basket twice.

With Greenbrier trailing by one late in the fourth quarter, the Wolfpack had two opportunities to take the lead in the final minute. An Andrews' runner rimmed out and a final half-court desperation shot from senior Sean Gray fell off the mark to end the game.

"It boiled down to the experience level," Dees said after the game. "They've got three experienced guards, and we've got three who are still coming along. We're still in the learning process."

The win, a non-region victory, improves Evans to 20-3 while Greenbrier drops to 12-10.

In the girls game, Greenbrier earned its 10th consecutive victory, 46-28.

Michelle Sweic scored 21 points to lead Greenbrier. Fifteen of her points came in the second half.

Reach Billy Byler at (706) 863-6165 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.