The Fannin County Rebels and Copper Basin Cougars had a slugfest on the court during the last night of the ETC Tip-Off Tournament Tuesday, November 24.
This game, like the girls’ game, came down to the wire, but a career night for Landon Norton, who made an eye popping eight three-pointers was able to give the Rebels a cushion as they were able to pull out a hard fought 60-53 win over the Cougars.
Norton led the Rebels in the first quarter as he began heating up from beyond the arc. Norton scored eight points on two, three-point buckets and two free throws. Twiggs also had a great night dominating the paint for six points on three, two-point baskets in the first quarter.
It was the Timothy Jabaley show in the first quarter for Copper Basin as he was hot right out of the gate scoring nine points on a two-point bucket, four free throws and pretty pull up three-point basket on a fast break. Timothy Fair also wrote his name in the scorebook in the first, scoring a three ball, followed by Radford Cheek grinding it out down low for a two-point bucket. Neither team led at the end of the first quarter as the game was tied 16-16.
Norton never slowed down in the second quarter for the Rebels, sinking three, three-point baskets for nine points to get the Rebel crowd on their feet. Twiggs continued to eat down low as he scored four points on two, two-point baskets and a free throw. Jordan Bennett was able to sink a three ball, followed by a two-point basket from Tucker Hanson to give the Rebels a 19-point second quarter.
Austin Collis and Fair led the Cougars in the second as the two combined for six points on a two-point basket and free throw each. Cheek forced in a two-point basket, followed by Jabaley converting a free throw to cap a nine point second quarter as the Rebels emerged 35-25 over Copper Basin at the half.
The Cougars outscored the Rebels 13-11 in the third quarter as Fair started to heat up. He accounted for eight points on a step back three-point basket, another three ball, and two free throws. Logan Burkett came alive as well, scoring four points on two, two-point baskets. Cheek converted a free throw to cap the Cougar scoring in the third.
Norton and Hanson led the Rebels with a three ball each in the third, followed by Twiggs and Bennett scoring a two-point bucket each. Nick Arp made it to the free throw stripe where he converted a free throw to wrap up the Rebel scoring in the third. The Cougars trimmed the Rebel lead in the third as Fannin clinged to a 46-38 lead heading into the final quarter.
Copper Basin outscored the Rebels 15-14 in the fourth as Burkett led the Cougars on 12 points coming off six, two-point baskets. Cheek drained a two-point basket and Joe Boggs converted a free throw to finish off the Cougar scoring.
Norton drained two more three-point baskets from a different area code in the fourth quarter for six points, while Twiggs netted six points on a two-point bucket and four free throws.
Arp muscled in a two-point bucket to finish off the fourth quarter scoring for the Rebels as they held off a persistent Copper Basin Cougar team 60-53.
FC 16 19 11 14 - 60
CB 16 09 13 15 - 53
Rebels summary:
Points: Norton 26, Twiggs 19, Bennett 5, Arp 5, Hanson 5.
Free throws: Twiggs 5-7, Norton 2-3, Arp 1-2, Green 0-2, Bennett 0-2.
Cougars summary:
Points: Burkett 18, Fair 14, Jabaley 10, Cheek 7, Collis 3, Boggs 1.
Free throws: Burkett 2-2, Jabaley 5-6, Fair 3-4, Boggs 1-2, Collis 1-2, Cheek 1-4.