BLOUNTSVILLE – It was a tough night for the Saints and Lady Saints, with both teams falling on the road at J.B. Pennington.
J.B. Pennington 49, St. Bernard 39 (Boys)
Defense would best describe the first quarter of action Monday night as the J.B. Pennington Tigers played host to the St. Bernard Saints in a close contest. Pennington controlled the game in the paint, blocking numerous shots, forcing the Saints to settle for jumpers from the perimeter. This didn’t seem to bother St. Bernard, with Elijah Price and Christian Peterson up to the challenge. The duo combined for nine first quarter points. Pennington had five different scorers in the first, leading to a 12-10 advantage eight minutes into the contest.
Peterson was on fire in the second quarter, scoring nine of the 14 Saints points in the second. In the last two minutes of the half, Peterson drilled a three to tie the game at 21. Pennington drained a three of their own but St. Bernard had the last say in the half when Price splashed in a three ball at the end of the half to tie the score at 24 as both teams headed to the locker room.
Right out of the locker room Peterson knocked down a three to give the Saints the lead. Luis Zatarain added a three of his own sandwiched around a single Tiger bucket. After weathering the storm, Pennington rattled off six straight points to take the lead back. The teams, and score, went back and forth for most of the third but when Price had to head to the bench due to foul trouble, the Tigers took advantage by going on a 5-0 run and ending the quarter up seven.
With their backs to the wall, St. Bernard played until the last second, but they could not overcome the late third quarter run by Pennington and fell to the Tigers 49-39.
J.B. Pennington 71, St. Bernard 16 (Girls)
Staunch defense and points in the paint were the formula for success as the Lady Tigers of Pennington took care of the St. Bernard Lady Saints with ease, 71-16.
The first quarter was dominated by Darby Hamm and Madison Lipscomb, who combined for 16 of the Lady Tigers’ 28 points in the first frame. Pennington jumped out to a 5-0 run before Emma Tafazoli scored the first points for St. Bernard. Pennington continued to pour on the offense and points throughout the first quarter to end the first eight minutes with a healthy 28-7 lead.
It was all Pennington in the second as they tacked on 23 more, 15 from Lipscomb, while holding St. Bernard scoreless to take a 51-7 lead to the locker room at the half.
Pennington maintained control of the game throughout the second half, forcing a “hot clock” in the fourth and taking the game 71-16.
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