HANCEVILLE – Very good individual performances set the tone for the winners Monday night as the Cullman County Basketball Tournament resumed at Wallace State Community College.
The Holly Pond junior varsity, Cold Springs Lady Eagles and Vinemont Eagles had one player that stole the show to send their clubs victorious and on to the next round.
The evening ended with Vinemont getting by Fairview 59-46 thanks to Tyler Tucker producing 19 points, shooting well from three-point range with four baskets made in nine attempts.
Prior to his performance, Cold Springs Lady Eagles controlled Vinemont 59-20 with guard Bailey West having a solid quarterfinal game. West found the Coliseum to her liking by hitting for 22 points on eight of 12 shooting, getting six treys in nine attempts.
The evening got under way by No. 1 seed Holly Pond winning over Hanceville 66-50 in the junior varsity. Caleb Jones was nearly perfect as he made eight of nine from the floor and three of four at the line for a game high 20 points.
Vinemont 59, Fairview 46:
Tyler Tucker made it count with three treys in the opening half, but a big field goal came from his brother Trey as time ran out in the half.
Trey followed up a missed three-pointer from Tyler, beating the buzzer to send Vinemont to the locker room with a 31-24 halftime cushion.
That momentum didn't last as Fairview charged back behind the scoring of center Tyler Yearwood. Yearwood started to connect from inside the paint and the Aggies opened the third on an 8-3 run and were back in business at 34-32.
It was time for Vinemont to respond. The Eagles did just that with a 9-1 run to close out the third, getting important hoops from Trey Tucker and Trey Waldrep and led 43-33 going into the fourth.
Too many Fairview turnovers hurt the Aggies' chances at a comeback in which Fairview lost its 13th straight game and fell to 6-21 on the season.
Behind the 19 points from Tyler Tucker who was six of 11 from the floor was Zach Drake with 13 on five of 10 shooting, Waldrep 10 points on four of six field goals and Trey Tucker getting nine by making four of eight.
Point guard Lance Stanley contributed eight to the total along with four assists. The Eagles are now 15-10 and head to Friday's semifinal to face No. 1 seed Cold Springs at 6:15 p.m.
Yearwood was tops for Fairview with 12 points and 14 rebounds, Austin Fletcher added 11, Jackson Smith seven, Austin Harris eight, Dylan Smith and Kyle Knop three and Caleb Chambers two.
Cold Springs 59, Vinemont 20 (Girls):
By the end of the first half, Bailey West had been productive with 14 points, including a three at the buzzer that extended the Lady Eagles' comfortable margin on Vinemont to 35-11.
Cold Springs was ahead 22-8 following the first then started the second stanza scoring 10 straight with the game no longer in contention for Vinemont to challenge.
It was 49-13 after the third as the fourth period moved quickly because of the AHSAA rule with the game clock running continuously because of Cold Springs having a lead of at least 30 points.
West hit six of nine from downtown and dropped in two of three field goals to finish 66 percent shooting for the game and give Cold Springs a berth into Thursday's Final Four at 7:30 p.m.
Caitlyn Hall had nine points and nine rebounds, Emme Willoughby nine points on four of six shooting, Camryn Crider and Keegan Johnson scored six, Destiny Campbell three and Rilee White two. The win moved the No. 3 Lady Eagles to 21-5 for the year.
Casey Westmoreland and Anna Hughes guided Vinemont with four points apiece.
Holly Pond 66, Hanceville 50 (JV):
No. 1 seed Holly Pond was on fire with Caleb Jones leading the charge in a 27-11 advantage after the first, ending the period on a 21-5 spurt. The Broncos held on to a 36-24 lead at the break and led 49-34 after the third period.
Jones scored 20 in the semifinal victory, knocking down eight of nine including seven of eight field goals. He was one of one in 3-point shots and scored three of four from the line.
Dylan Morton added 10, Dawson Foust scored nine, Kelby Alexander had eight, Michael Lambert nine, Tanner Duke four and Jordan Creel and Mason May two each.
Tyler Turner, who had 22 for Hanceville in a quarterfinal win on Saturday, was efficient in this game with 16 on eight of 11 shooting. JK Davis landed 14 points, Ethan Yarbrough nine, Cameron Brockman five and John Messersmith two.
Holly Pond heads to the title game Saturday, waiting the winner of Tuesday's semifinal between No. 2 West Point and No. 3 Cold Springs.
