CULLMAN, Ala. — This year’s Coach Mike Dean Turkey Shootout tipped off at Cullman High School’s Bearcat Arena Monday night and both the Good Hope Raiders and the hosting Bearcats earned wins in the opening round. The Raiders raced past Curry 77-36 to secure a spot in the semifinals and Cullman advanced with a convincing, 89-44 win over Lawrence County.
Good Hope 77 – Curry 36 (varsity boys)
The Raiders got off to a fast start in the opening period, moving ahead 12-4 with a three-pointer from Tyler Byrd. A three by Dakota Overton and a quick basket from Weston Hancock extended the lead to 17-6 later in the first and Jacob Haynes laid one in to make it a 19-6 game. K’mal Bell scored two more buckets before the end of the first and Good Hope went into the second leading the Yellow Jackets 25-6.
Hancock drained a three to put the Raiders ahead 28-6 early in the second quarter and Good Hope continued to add to its lead. Isaiah Turner laid one in to make it 31-6 later in the period and Bell knocked down a three-pointer to stretch the lead to 34-6. With less than three minutes to play in the half, a bucket from Cone and another three by Bell made it a 42-10 game and a three-pointer by Overton and a jumper from Bell put the Raiders in front 47-19 at the halftime break.
A pair of Bell buckets helped stretch the lead to 54-22 early in the third and Hancock laid one in to make it 56-24 midway through the period. Cone scored on fast break and Malin dropped in a floater to make it a 60-26 game later in the third and after a Curry turnover, Cone threw one down on another fast break to put Good Hope in front 62-26. Turner scored the final five Raider points of the third quarter and Good Hope went into the final frame leading 69-28.
Haynes split a pair of free throws and Malin scored inside to make it a 72-28 game early in the fourth and another basket by Byrd made it 74-28. Good Hope’s final points of the night came on a three-pointer from Hancock and the Raiders cruised to win their opening matchup of this year’s Mike Dean Turkey Shootout 77-36.
Bell led Good Hope with 22 points in the win. Cone added 15, Hancock finished with 13 and Overton posted nine.
Good Hope will be back on the court at Bearcat Arena Tuesday at 6 p.m. to face Albertville.
Cullman 89 – Lawrence County 44 (varsity boys)
The Bearcats got off to a fast start against the Red Devils, hitting shots and creating turnovers to build a 24-0 lead in the first three minutes of the first quarter. Six different players scored during the run, led by Colton Echols with eight points. Cullman continued to pour it on, extending the lead to 30-4 with a basket from Sam Duskin and a three-pointer from Jake Dorough. With the lead at 34-6 in the final minute of the first, Evan Wilson buried back to back three-pointers to make it a 40-8 game going into the second quarter.
Jake and Sam Dorough each knocked down three-pointers early in the second to help make it a 49-14 game and a pair of Echols free throws stretched the lead to 53-14 later in the period. Brodie Bannister hit a pair of free throws and followed them with a three-pointer from the top of the key to make it 58-17 with just over a minute remaining in the first half and Gray Hopper drained three of his four free throw attempts in the final 50 seconds to give the ‘Cats a 61-19 advantage at the halftime break.
A Jake Dorough three-pointer followed by a pair of Duskin baskets extended the lead to 68-20 early in the third and Hopper converted an and-one play to make it 71-22 later in the period. Preston Gay sank a pair of free throws and lobbed one up to Echols off the backboard for an easy score to stretch the lead to 50 midway through the third. Baskets by Duskin and Wilson kept Cullman in front 82-32 late in the third quarter and the ‘Cats went into the fourth leading Lawrence County 82-35.
A Peyton Bradley bucket made it an 84-41 game early in the fourth and with the hot clock running, Griffin Carter drained a three from the corner to cap an 89-44 win for Cullman.
Duskin led the way for the ‘Cats with 17 points in the win, followed by Echols with 16, Wilson with 14 and Jake Dorough with 13. 11 different players scored for Cullman.
The Bearcats will be back in action Tuesday night at 7:30 for a game against Springville.
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