The game came down to the last seconds, but, in the end, the Copper Basin Cougars had secured their spot as this year’s District 4A Champions in boys basketball.
The Cougars played host to the Chattanooga Preparatory School Sentinels Saturday night, February 19, in the tournament title game. Behind a strong fourth quarter comeback, Copper Basin posted a 45-43 victory.
Entering the final eight minutes, Copper Basin trailed 39-32, a position they had been in since before halftime. The Cougars comeback combined a 13-4 offensive advantage, strong defense, sure-handed rebounding on both ends of the court, and close attention to limiting turnovers.
Copper Basin began the climb to victory in the third quarter. Entering the period trailing 24-18, they pulled to within four points at the five-minute mark at 25-29. The Sentinels rebuilt some distance, but the Cougars returned to the four-point spread at 35-31. At the buzzer, the visitors reclaimed a seven-point lead.
The final minutes went on the clock, and the defensive show began until, with almost two minutes gone, Evan Bobo launched his first of two three-pointers to close the gap to 37-39. Then, Bobo struck with a second long ball to put Basin ahead 40-39.
Two more points and the Cougars led 42-39 before the Sentinels tied the game at 42-42 with four minutes on the clock.
The Cougars regained the lead at 44-42 before giving up a free throw to the Sentinels. Connor Kimsey hit the first end of a one-and-one to stretch the Basin advantage to 45-43.
As the seconds started ticking away, neither team could find points. The Sentinels used a series of timeouts to try and move the ball down the court one last time, but their efforts failed.
The Cougars had succeeded in a comeback effort that started from the opening tipoff.
That was when Chattanooga Prep put five points on the board before a foul shot started the Cougars’ offense.
Trailing 6-2, two consecutive three-pointers from Bobo gave Basin an 8-6 lead. Combined with three foul shots from Kimsey, two points from Joe Boggs and a free throw from Reece Parris, the Cougars squeezed out a 12-9 lead at the end of the quarter.
The Sentinels struck back in the second, outscoring Basin 15-6. The Cougars were held to four points from Kimsey and two by Boggs.
Basin began their strong second half comeback in the third, going almost point for point with the visitors. At the buzzer, the Cougars had put in 14 to the visitors’ 15. Kimsey set that pace with nine, followed by Boggs and Ethan Queen with two each and Parris with another free throw.
In the last eight minutes, Bobo scored eight points, Queen and Parris each had two points, and Kimsey posted his final free throw.
Kimsey and Bobo each ended the game in double figures for Copper Basin with 17 and 14 points, respectively. Boggs tallied six points, and Queen and Parris had four each.
CBHS 12 6 14 13 - 45
CPS 9 15 15 4 - 43
Cougar summary:
Points: Kimsey 17, Bobo 14, Boggs 6, Queen 4, Parris 4.
Free throws: Queen 0-4, Bobo 0-1, Boggs