West Point's Elvis Arroyo (5) lays one in during the Warriors' 38-32 win over Vinemont Saturday evening. (Bill Piper for The Cullman Tribune)
HANCEVILLE – A pair of lower-seeded squads duked it out for the junior varsity boys’ crown Saturday afternoon as the (3) West Point Warriors squared off against the (5) Vinemont Eagles. After both teams traded the lead several times throughout the game, the Warriors were able to hold off the Eagles late in the fourth quarter and held on to win it
Neither side was able to create much separation from the other early in the game, but the Warriors still maintained a 10-6 lead at the start of the second quarter. Back to back baskets from Logan Selby quickly put the Warriors in front 14-6 but the Eagles were able to make it a 16-9 game late in the second quarter. West Point closed the half on a 6-3 run to take a double-digit lead into the locker room at the break.
Vinemont changed the momentum of the game as soon as they hit the floor for the start of the third quarter. A 7-0 start to the half for the Eagles cut the lead to 22-19 early in the third and a basket from Tanner Brown made it 22-21 midway through the period. The run continued for the Eagles as Sam Maldonado laid one in to give Vinemont a 23-22 lead, but Brannon Bright finally got a shot to fall for the Warriors in the second half and they moved back in front 25-23. West Point added onto their lead and held a 28-23 advantage going into the final frame.
The Eagles struggled from the charity stripe early in the fourth, making it more difficult to chip away at the lead. Caleb Sharpe netted a free throw midway through the period to make it a 32-27 game and Bryce Perkins added two more to cut it to 32-29. Selby netted a pair of free throws with just under a minute to play to put the Warriors ahead 34-29 but Teague Whatley nailed a three-pointer with 10 seconds remaining to trim the lead to 34-32. Elvis Arroyo sealed the deal at the free throw line with six seconds to play and helped lift West Point to a 38-32 victory and a JV Boys’ Championship.
Selby led the Warriors with nine points, followed by Carter Thornton with seven and Bright with five. Whatley led the way for Vinemont in the loss, finishing with 12 points. Sharpe finished just behind him with eight.
2019 junior varsity boys Cullman County All-Tournament Team:
Teague Whatley – Vinemont
Tanner Brown – Vinemont
Logan Selby – West Point
Mason Walls – West Point
Brodie Malcom – Hanceville
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