FALKVILLE – Triston Chambers of the Cold Springs Eagles didn’t force himself to get involved in the game offensively Tuesday night with the Falkville Blue Devils. He just eased into it.
The school’s and Cullman County’s all-time leading scorer did it rather quietly. But it was very effective in keeping the Eagles from being upset by the Blue Devils, winning at Tom Drake Gymnasium on the Falkville campus 64-49.
Chambers finished with a game high 33 points. The Samford signee had just 10 points through halftime with the Eagles in front 27-19.
But as the game entered the final seconds of the third quarter, Chambers was ready for his own version of a “lift off.”
He sent the Eagles in front with a couple of free throws to make the score 36-35. Cold Springs was never behind the rest of the game.
Then he let 17 points fly through the basket in the final 8:00. scoring three times from the top of the three-point circle and hitting all eight of his free throw tries in the period.
For the game, Chambers had 33 points on eight field goals, four treys and was 13 of 15 from the line, hitting his last 10 foul shots.
The Eagles saved their best quarter for last with 28 points after they had just collected nine in the third period. Falkville had slowed Chambers up just enough then with the game on the line, Chambers set the tone of showing his leadership roles.
Besides the 17 from Chambers in the fourth, Tim Willoughby’s Eagles did get some big plays from others. Jesse Lee had a crucial three-point play, Josh Freeman was three of four from the line and Tyler Rice banged home a three-pointer.
That all added up to the 14th win of the season for Cold Springs and a 3-0 record in 2A, Area 14 to keep them on top with three consecutive area games to be played starting Friday when the Eagles host the Tanner Rattlers.
Freeman netted 15 in the victory while Lee scored 10 and Rice accounted for five.
GIRLS
Cold Springs 65, Falkville 56
Shut out of the scoring total in the first half, Camryn Crider made up for it in a super fashion, hitting for 14 in the third quarter and Rilee White supported her as well with seven to give the Lady Eagles a huge lift and hand Falkville its first loss in 2A, Area 14 play.
The Lady Eagles got themselves back in contention to win the regular season area championship. They are now 2-1 in the area with Falkville 3-1. Tammy West’s squad host Tanner Friday with Falkville having to play the Lady Rattlers next Tuesday inLimestone County.
Tanner is 1-1 in the area standings.
With Crider and White combining for 21 of the Lady Eagles’ 27 points in the third, the Lady Eagles took a 22-17 halftime cushion and extended it to 49-37 following the third period.
Cold Springs used six of six free throws by Emily Willoughby to preserve the win. Kinley Campbell and Bailey West combined for four of four from the line, with the free throws coming in crunch time of the last period.
Willoughby tossed in 22 for the Lady Eagles, 12-8 overall. Crider delivered 15, West 12, Campbell and White with seven. Emily Mickleson scored 20 points for Falkville with nine coming on short range field goals in the paint.
The Lady Eagles avenged a 49-45 loss to the Lady Blue Devils at Cold Springs December 18.
