LICK CREEK - As the 2005-06 regular season comes to a close, area high school boys' basketball teams are looking to peak at the right time. Prestonsburg has played well at times this season but has also struggled at times. After dropping two straight 58th District games to rivals Betsy Layne and South Floyd, the Blackcats got back on the winning track last Wednesday against Breathitt County. Prestonsburg traveled to East Ridge on Friday to take on the Warriors, a team that had never beaten the Blackcats on the hardwood. After a slow start, the Blackcats found the rang in the second half and ran away with a 67-53 win.

East Ridge took an early lead in the first quarter and led 15-11 after one quarter. Prestonsburg, however, slowly started to turn the game around late in the first half. For the second straight game, the trio of Lewis Barnette, Sean Leslie and Bobby Hughes led the Blackcats in scoring. All three finished in double figures in the win. Barnette and and Leslie finished with 15 points each while Hughes added 13.

Prestonsburg outscored the Warriors 16-10 in the second quarter to take a 27-25 lead at the half. The third quarter proved to be the deciding eight-minutes as Prestonsburg went on a 13-4 run early in the quarter to take an 11-point lead. East Ridge was able to get within six late in the quarter but another six-point run by the cats put the game out of reach.

Senior guard Michael Stephens tossed in 12 points in the win and backcourt mate Brooks Herrick added six.

Prestonsburg led 45-35 af the end of the third quarter.