| It was literally the perfect ending to 2012 for Obion County’s three boys’ basketball teams.
Obion Central won the championship of the Nera White Christmas Tournament at Macon County, Union City took the title in the Murray Bank Laker Classic and South Fulton completed a 3-0 run in the Stewart County Christmas Classic on Saturday.
The string of successes leaves OC at 9-6, UC 10-5 and SF 9-5 heading into the second half of the 2012-13 campaign that begins later this week with their respective district tournaments six weeks away.
Central, the third seed in the eight-team field at Macon County, beat the host school in Friday’s semifinals 57-46 before blowing out No. 4 seed Cumberland County 67-32 in the championship game Saturday.
Senior guard Shaw Logan was named Most Valuable Player in the tourney after scoring 61 points in OC’s three victories.
Union City, after gaining a bye to the semifinals when Centennial (Ohio) was unable to make the trip to Murray due to inclement weather, won a pair of close games over Hopkinsville (66-65) and the hometown Lakers (48-42) to bring home the Murray back title.
Donte Simpson sank a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer vs. Hopkinsville, and then Malik Stockdale and Marcus DeBerry hit four 3-pointers apiece in the finals to pace the Twisters.
South Fulton had some dramatics of its own, getting two free throws from Harrison Hawks with seven seconds to play to give the Red Devils a 47-46 victory over Camden Saturday, SF had whipped Houston County (73-45) on Friday.
The three local entries hope to build on those respective showings when the second half of their campaigns start this week — Union City at home vs. Dresden Thursday, and Obion Central at Westview along with South Fulton hosting Greenfield Friday.
Nera White Tournament
OC 67, Cumberland Co. 32
Central dominated the finale of the Nera White tourney, leading by 15 (34-19) at the half, then essentially removed any doubt about the outcome by outscoring the Jets (9-9) 21-5 in the third stanza for a commanding 55-24 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Logan completed his MVP performance with 15 points, while Bryan Morris added 13 and five steals. Eric Torres was just a bucket away from double-digits in scoring with eight markers.
Morris and Torres joined Logan on the all-tournament team, announced at the end of the event.
OC 57, Macon Co. 46
The Rebels outscored the host team 17-8 in the fourth quarter to pull away after leading just 40-38 with three periods in the book in the semis.
Obion Central was up 32-23 at the intermission, using a 19-11 second-period run to take that margin.
Logan made 5-of-6 from 3-point range and finished with a game-high 23 points for the victors.
Tyler Mosley was a factor for the Rebs, too, with seven points and eight rebounds.
Laker Classic
UC 48, Calloway Co. 42
A night after a thrilling last-second victory over heavily-favored and pre-tournament favorite Hopkinsville, the Golden Tornadoes outscored the home team 11-5 in the fourth quarter of the championship game to earn the title.
Possessions were at a premium throughout the game with just 48 total. The two teams combined to have just 10 possessions in the final frame.
Jamie Hyde, Simpson and Stockdale made two key free throws each in the final minute to ensure Union City’s win.
Stockdale (20) and DeBerry (18) combined for all but 10 of the Tornadoes’ points. Stockdale was named the game MVP by tournament officials.
The contest was close throughout with UC down by four after one, by one at the half and even after three periods.
UC 66, Hopkinsville 65
Simpson’s game-winner at the horn came after Stockdale had missed from beyond the arc, but then chased down the rebound to give Union City a second chance.
DeBerry sank a triple to tie the count at 63-all after the Twisters had trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half. UC had cut that deficit to 41-34 at the intermission.
The Tornadoes forced Hopkinsville into 24 turnovers — 12 in each half — and had just five floor mistakes themselves over the final two periods. UC had 12 offensive rebounds and enjoyed a 23-15 rebounding edge.
Simpson led three UC players in double figures with 17 points with DeBerry hitting for 14 and Khiry Lewis 12. LaMonte Dickerson was just a point away from that status with nine.
DeBerry, who hit four 3-pointers, was named the game most valuable player.
Stewart Co. Classic
SF 47, Camden 46
Hawks’ deciding charity tosses came after the Lions had made a 3-pointer with 24 seconds showing to go up 46-45.
Josh Hollowell’s deuce with 50 seconds remaining had broken a tie and given South Fulton a brief two-point advantage.
Despite allowing Camden just five first-quarter points, the Lions were still within 23-21 at the half and led 36-33 after three.
Hawks finished with 16 points. Tevaris James had 10 and six rebounds, while Keshawn McManus ended up with eight points and nine boards. T.J. Ingram recorded five assists.
SF 73, Houston Co. 45
The Redmen outscored HC 51-23 over the middle two periods to win going away.
J.P. Fowler posted a career-high 19 point total, while Hawks, James and Hollowell each finished with 11 markers to give South Fulton four players in double digits.
Hawks also had five steals. Published in The Messenger 12.31.12 |
