Battle for 5th & 6th championship begins

After a close first half, the Wildcats pulled out in the fourth quarter to take a 29-16 victory in the first game of the boys? side of the tournament.

Both teams had trouble scoring in the opening period. Dustin Hale had the Tigers? only point in the period hitting one-of-two from the free throw line. Dibrell scored four points with Trevor Bell and Bradley Stewart hitting as the Wildcats held a 4-1 lead.

Each team scored seven points in the second period. Trevor Vaughn pitched in four points to lead the Wildcats. Kade Kelly, Joseph Austin and Tyler Clendenon kept the Tigers within striking distance, however, and by the end of the half Dibrell held a 11-8 advantage.

With 2:22 remaining in the third period Hale tied the game at 12-12 for the Tigers. After Bell hit one-of-two from the line for Dibrell, Kelly put the Tigers on top 14-13 after hitting a runner in the paint. But Dibrell hit the defensive boards and held the Tigers scoreless during the final minute of play. Stewart sank two-of-two from the charity stripe and closed out the period with a jumper from the paint to give the Wildcats a 17-14 lead.

Dibrell?s defense held the Tigers to two points in the final period. The Wildcats blocked out on the glass, resulting in three basket off of offensive rebounds. Jeffery White hit for two as Bell and Jonathan Beavers had one basket each. Dibrell hit 4-of-14 from the line down the stretch to secure the win.

For the Wildcats, Stewart hit for eight, Bell added seven, Vaughn had six, White hit for three, Keain Hildreth and Beavers had two points each and Hunter Bess added one point.

Kelly had six points for the Tigers. Hale and Joseph Austin had four points each and Clendenon added two points.