CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman was back home at Bearcat Arena to open area play against Mortimer Jordan Tuesday night and the Bearcat teams split their matchups with the Blue Devils. The Lady Bearcats led Mortimer Jordan early in the second quarter but after falling behind at halftime, they were unable to come from behind and fell to the Blue Devils 61-51. In the boys’ game, the Bearcats got off to a fast start on both ends of the court and tipped off area play with a dominant, 74-42 win over Mortimer Jordan.
Cullman 74 – Mortimer Jordan 42 (Varsity Boys)
The Bearcats got off to a fast start in this one. A pair of Jake Dorough baskets and a three-pointer from Sam Dorough gave Cullman a 7-2 lead early in the opening period. Brooks Loftin and Evans Wilson each scored inside to make it 11-2 and Max Brooks buried a three to put the ‘Cats in front 14-4. A pair of Jake Dorough buckets extended Cullman’s lead to 18-7 at the end of the first quarter.
The Bearcats were able to create even more separation in the second quarter. After Jake Dorough split a pair of free throws, Preston Gay laid one in and Loftin converted an and-one play to stretch the lead to 24-8. A pair of Sam Dorough free throws and another three from Brooks made it a 29-10 game with five minutes remaining in the opening half. Three-pointers by Sam Dorough and Gay helped build the lead up to 37-10 later in the period and after that, Sam Dorough scored the next five Cullman points to make it a 42-15 game. Wilson and Sam Dorough added more free throws before the end of the second quarter and the Bearcats went into the locker room with a commanding, 45-15 lead at halftime.
Cullman’s dominance continued in the third quarter. Three-pointers from Wilson, Gray Hopper and Gay gave the ‘Cats a 54-17 lead early in the period and Loftin hit a pair of free throws to make it 54-19 midway through the quarter. Baskets by Emory Bonds and Griffin Carter extended the lead to 60-21 and Loftin laid another one in to make it 62-21 with just over a minute to play in the period. Loftin added one more basket in the paint, Wilson threw down a dunk and Jake Dorough buried a three in the final minute of the third to put Cullman in front 70-31 at the start of the fourth.
Wilson and Loftin each scored early in the fourth quarter to keep the ‘Cats ahead 74-35 and with the clock running, Cullman cruised the rest of the way, collecting a 74-42 area win over Mortimer Jordan.
Five Bearcats finished the game in double figures, led by Sam Dorough with 15. Loftin posted 13, Jake Dorough had 12 and Wilson and Gay each added 10.
Mortimer Jordan 61 – Cullman 51 (Varsity Girls)
Cullman got off to a strong start, building an early, 6-0 lead with a score from Rachel Hoffman and a pair of Molly Wilson baskets. Hoffman laid another one in to make it 8-0 and after the Blue Devils hit a three on the other end, Hoffman and Zoe Snider each drained a free throw to keep the ‘Cats in front 10-5 midway through the period. Another bucket from Wilson gave Cullman a 12-9 lead with two minutes remaining in the first but Mortimer Jordan was able to pull ahead and take a 17-12 lead by the start of the second.
Molly Dorough buried back to back three-pointers to put Cullman in front 18-17 early in the second quarter. However, the only offense the Bearcats could put together in the rest of the first half was some free throws, and the Blue Devils outscored Cullman 23-11 in the period to take a 40-23 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Dorough laid one in to get the third quarter started and a pair of Hoffman baskets trimmed the lead to 44-29. Dorough sank a couple free throws and Hoffman scored two more baskets to make it a 44-35 game. Hanback hit a pair of free throws in the final 40 seconds of the period to make it 47-37 going into the fourth quarter.
Dorough knocked down another three to hold the lead to 50-40 early in the fourth and her next basket made it a 54-42 game with around five minutes on the clock. Wilson laid one in to make it 57-44 later in the period and she drilled a three from just across half court as the final buzzer sounded but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Blue Devil lead and the ‘Cats dropped their area opener 61-51.
Dorough led the way with 19 points in the loss, followed by Hoffman with 15 and Wilson with 14.
Cullman’s games against Jasper scheduled for Friday have been postponed to Jan. 21 due to the incoming inclement weather so the next time the Bearcats will be back on the court will be at Hartselle next Tuesday.
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