WEST POINT – The annual West Point Christmas Tournament concluded Tuesday with four match-ups.
FAIRVIEW 72, RA HUBBARD 74
Both Fairview and RA Hubbard shot well in the first quarter, matching each other shot for shot. The only difference in the quarter was a buzzer beating three-point basket by Tyler Ball that gave Fairview an 18-17 advantage after one.
The second quarter was as close as close could be with both teams putting up impressive shooting performances.
When the dust had settled the Aggies and the Chiefs were knotted at 35 heading to the half.
The third quarter was won by the RA Hubbard Chiefs thanks in large part to a 12-2 run midway through the period. Fairview was able to cut into the lead, finishing the quarter on a 4-0 run but still trailed by seven heading into the fourth.
The fourth was a back and forth affair with the lead changing hands on each and every possession down the floor. With 22.8 seconds left to play and down by two, Austin Fletcher tipped in a Fairview miss to knot the game at 65.
The Chiefs hustled the ball down the floor and took a timeout with 7.7 seconds on the clock in regulation, looking to set up a winning play. As the teams returned to the floor, it was Fairview who called a timeout to set up their defense and tried to force overtime by taking a long inbounds play and not giving the Chiefs a good look at the hoop.
As in the previous four quarters, the action was back and forth in the overtime period. Fairview knocked down a huge three with 20.4 seconds left in OT to tie the game at 72. With just 10.3 seconds left, RA Hubbard's Orr knocked down a pair of game-winning free throws to give the Chiefs the 74-72 win.
DANVILLE 48, LAWRENCE COUNTY 35
The Lawrence County Red Devils were overmatched in the second game on day three of the West Point Christmas Tournament. They fought hard for the entire 32 minutes but ultimately fell to the Hawks of Danville by the final score of 48-35.
WEST POINT 50, PRICEVILLE 73
In the most highly anticipated matchup of the day and arguably the entire tournament, West Point and Priceville locked horns in game number three of day three and it was a matchup that did not disappoint.
The action was fast and furious in the opening stanza. It was filled with steals and fast breaks, long range threes and short range jumpers and a plethora of ties and lead changes. Much to the chagrin of West Point, it was Priceville who hit the last bucket and took a 19-17 advantage after one.
The second quarter was much like the first. Nine lead changes and two ties layer, the West Point Warriors and Priceville Bulldogs were all even at 34 heading to the halftime break.
To no one's surprise, the third quarter was just as evenly matched as the first two but it was the outside shooting of Priceville late in the quarter, with back to back threes, that gave them a five-point advantage going to the fourth.
The Bulldogs quickly extended their lead to seven with a lay-up to start the fourth, prompting a timeout from the Warriors. Out of the break, Priceville scored the next five to extend the run to 7-0 and put West Point in a 12-point hole. The Warriors had a tough time getting anything going in the fourth while Priceville continued to pour in points. The Warriors fell 73-50.
GOOD HOPE 51, BREWER 69
After missing the first day of the West Point Christmas Tournament, the Brewer Patriots were determined to make up for lost time, and they did just that when they downed the Good Hope Raiders in the final game.
The Raiders just could not seem to get anything going on the night, and they never got closer than 11 points after the first quarter, falling to Brewer 69-51. However, it was Good Hope that would have the last laugh as they claimed the trophy for the best record of teams from Cullman County, beating out Fairview and the host, the West Point Warriors.
Cullman County first place: Good Hope Raiders
Non-County first place: Danville Hawks
