Nursing a two-point lead early in the fourth quarter, the visitors went on an 11-3 run to go up 54-43 with 3:08 remaining in the game.
Cedar Bluff (7-10, 3-2) was not by any means out of the woods, as the Trojans (1-20, 0-8) stormed back to within 55-54 with just under a minute left.
The Tiger lead stayed intact down the stretch, however, as Derek Chesnut delivered two free throws and a lay-up over the final 52.34 to edge Cedar Bluff to victory.
Four Tigers scored in double figures, with Rodney Guins posting a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Matt Wilson contributed 13, while Chesnut and Jeremy Bryant each added 11.
Bryant also grabbed eight rebounds.
Jeremy Long led Gaylesville with 22 points, while Tait Blankenship chipped in 11.
Rick Peek pulled down nine rebounds, followed by Jerry Stancil with eight and Corey Johnson with six.
Long, Blankenship and Stancil each distributed four assists.
Stancil came up with four steals and had two blocks.
The hosts went ahead 13-9 after the first quarter, and Johnson’s basket at the six-minute mark of the second period made it 18-11 in favor of the Trojans.
Gaylesville soon saw its advantage disappear, however, as Cedar Bluff used a 16-6 run to take a 27-24 halftime lead.
The hosts stood their ground in the senocd half, as Blankenship’s scored eight of the Trojans’ 14 third period points to cut the visitor’s lead to 39-38 after 24 minutes.
Peek’s basket at 6:21 of the fourth frame drew Gaylesville within 42-40, but the Tigers ran off 10 straight points to make it 50-40 with 4:40 left.
Long’s two three-point baskets and Johnson’s jump shot and two foul shots over the next few minutes again brought the visitors within a point, but the Tigers withstood Long’s buzzer-beating trey for the area win.
CEDAR BLUFF (59): Rodney Guins 18, Matt Wilson 13, Derek Chesnut 11, Jeremy Bryant 11, Scott Rice 2, Lucas Pruett 2, Andrew Alexander 2.
GAYLESVILLE (57): Jeremy Long 22, Tait Blankenship 11, Rick Peek 9, Corey Johnson 9, Jerry Stancil 4, Earl Wells 2
Post a Comment