HANCEVILLE – Day four of the 2018 Cullman County Basketball Tournament wrapped up Wednesday night at Tom Drake Coliseum, featuring tight games and dominant performances alike.
Ninth Grade Boys Game 2: Fairview (1) 36 – Good Hope (5) 20
The ninth grade boys got things started Wednesday night with a matchup between the Fairview Aggies and the Good Hope Raiders. The game started slowly for both teams but particularly for the Raiders, who were shut out in the first quarter and didn’t get on the board until the 4:16 mark of the second. The Raiders picked up the slack on the defensive end in the first half and trailed just 11-4 after a disappointing two quarters on offense. Good Hope couldn’t keep the Aggies reined in for another half and Fairview began to pull away after a 10-2 run in the third quarter. Owen Yarbrough led the way for the Aggies offensively, leading the game with 10 points to go along with four rebounds. The Aggies will play the Vinemont Eagles for the Ninth Grade Boys Championship this Saturday at 1 p.m.
Ninth Grade Boys Game 3: Vinemont (3) 43 – West Point (2) 40
The Vinemont Eagles rode a hot start and finish to the second half on their way to an upset win over West Point in Wednesday’s second semi-final game. The Eagles trailed West Point 16-14 at the half, but Eagles guard Curtis Kennedy knocked down two 3-pointers to start the third quarter to jump out to a lead. Kennedy finished with 11 points and nine rebounds. West Point and Vinemont continued to trade baskets late into the fourth quarter. The Warriors kept pace thanks to 12- and 13-point performances from Brannon Bright and Carter Thornton, respectively. Thornton also came up with three steals, two of which came late in the game. Vinemont was able to finish the game strong by knocking down nearly all of its free throws in the fourth quarter, several of which came from guard Collin Teichmiller. Teichmiller led the game with 14 points. The Vinemont Eagles will face the Fairview Aggies for the Ninth Grade Boys Championship Saturday at 1 p.m.
Varsity Girls Game 3: Hanceville (4) 56 – Good Hope (5) 40
The Hanceville Lady Bulldogs downed the Lady Raiders of Good Hope in Wednesday night’s third matchup thanks to their ability to get to the basket and to create turnovers. The game was tied at 22 to the start the second half but Good Hope couldn’t keep up with the Lady Bulldogs in the fourth quarter. Hanceville generated 15 steals in the game, many of them coming in the second half and leading to easy buckets for the Lady Bulldogs. Kierra Merriweather led the way on defense for the Lady Bulldogs with four steals on the defensive end to go with 11 points and seven rebounds. Point guard Kelly Pickett handled the ball most of the night for Hanceville and was tied for the game-high with 15 points. Pickett also recorded three rebounds and three steals. Forward Kate Kent came up with plenty for the Lady Raiders’ offense inside the paint, leading the Raiders in points with 15 and the game in rebounds with 12, recording the game’s only double-double. The Lady Bulldogs move on to the semi-final round to take on the top-seeded Fairview Aggies Thursday at 6:15.
Varsity Boys Game 3: West Point (2) 73 – Vinemont (7) 38
Wednesday night’s final matchup was a very one-sided affair, with the West Point Warriors racking up 73 points in a win over Vinemont. The Warriors were just as dominant on the other end of the floor, holding the Eagles to just six points in the first quarter and maintaining a double-digit lead for most of the game. The ball was spread around for the Warriors’ offense, with three players scoring in the double digits. Guard Coby Sullins finished with 13 while forwards Austin Dubberly and Tyler Thompson put 12 and 13 points, respectively. Eagles guard Jack Hill provided a lot of the Eagles’ offense in the loss, handling the ball for most possessions and leading the team with 13 points. The Warriors advance to take on third-seeded Good Hope in the semi-final round Friday at 7:30 p.m.
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