The No. 4 seed Tigers (5-9) failure to protect a nine-point fourth quarter lead with Gaylesville resulted in an overtime session, with Cedar Bluff escaping with a 58-57 overtime win.
“Gaylesville deserved to win this game,” said Cedar Bluff head coach Joe Carpenter. “They completely out-played us and out-hustled us on both ends of the court. We’ll take the win, but the less said about it, the better.”
The Tigers advance to meet No. 1 seed Spring Garden in Thursday’s semifinals.
Terrell Irons’ two free throws at 7:02 of the final period was not nearly enough of a cushion against the pesky Trojans (1-17).
Tyler Bradford’s basket at 6:34 and his three-pointer with 42 seconds remaining bookended a 19-11 Gaylesville stretch that put the Trojans up 50-49.
The Tigers went back on top courtesy of Rodney Guins’ put-back, and following respective turnovers by both teams, Zac Mobbs’ foul shot tied the game at 51-51 with 14.2 on the clock.
Gaylesville got possession after forcing a jump ball with 2.1 seconds left.
Cedar Bluff intercepted the Trojans' inbound pass, but the contest headed to overtime when Tigers’ lay-up failed to beat the buzzer.
Baskets from Irons and Guins in the extra session’s first minute gave Cedar Bluff a four-point lead before Coty Cavin and Mobbs responded in kind for Gaylesville.
Cedar Bluff regained the lead on Guins’ free throw with just under a minute remaining, but the Trojans went ahead by a point on Mobbs’s lay-up at 46.3.
Lucas Pruett’s bucket with 20 seconds left made it a 58-57 Tiger advantage.
Gaylesville had one last shot with five seconds remaining, but the Trojans misfired on a three-point attempt.
Irons corralled the rebound, sending Cedar Bluff into Thursday’s semifinal against No. 1 seed Spring Garden.
Irons led the Tigers with 15 points, followed by Guins and Austin Hayes with 14 each and Pruett with 10.
Guins and Hayes each pulled down 18 rebounds.
Irons and Hayes came up with six and five steals, respectively.
“Two schools four miles apart battling like they did, this was just a great game to have in a county tournament,” said Gaylesville head coach Drew Davis. “I have to give Cedar Bluff credit. Tyler really grew up tonight, and I’m proud of him for that. It’s tough when you lose someone like Tait [Blankenship] to fouls (with 3:05 left in the fourth quarter). He was making some big shots and rebounding really well. But I’m proud of our kids for still fighting back after we had our backs to the wall.”
Cedar Bluff took 22 foul shots to Gaylesville’s eight attempts.
Bradford led the Trojans with 22 points, followed by Blankenship with 15 and Mobbs with 13.
Mobbs’ basket with 11 seconds left in the first quarter put Gaylesville on top by a 9-8 margin.
A 7-0 run late in the second period gave the Tigers a 20-14 lead.
Bradford’s trey with 21 seconds left in the half drew the Trojans within 20-17.
Cedar Bluff went up 28-17 early in the third quarter before an 11-2 Gasylesville spurt pared the Tiger lead to two points.
Cedar Bluff then closed out the period with an 8-3 stretch for a 38-31 advantage at the start of the fourth frame.
CEDAR BLUFF (58): Irons 15, Guins 14, Hayes 14, Pruett 10, May 3, Nelson 2.
GAYLESVILLE (57): Bradford 22, Blankenship 16, Mobbs 13, Bias 4, Cavin 2
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