Tigers times two

Published 10:27 pm Saturday, January 10, 2009

The final day of the Chilton County Basketball Tournament had fans seeing double.

Thorsby and Chilton County High played for the girls championship for the second year in a row, Thorsby and Chilton County High played again (this time it was the boys), and CCHS claimed two first-place trophies on Saturday.

For the No. 1 seed boys, the 67-37 win meant their seventh consecutive tournament title, though No. 2 seed Thorsby did provide a challenge.

The Rebels (7-4) trailed by five points after one period and nine points at halftime, but the Tigers (9-5), playing on their home court though Isabella was the tournament host, couldn’t put the game away.

Nelson Williams converted on one of two free throw attempts with 6:16 remaining in the game to give CCHS a 45-30 edge, its first lead of more than 14 points.

“We started out slow, but we came out in the third quarter and shot better and rebounded better,” Tigers coach Donnie Hand said. “You can give coach (Corey) Clements and Thorsby a lot of credit. They played a good game.”

CCHS’s Kenyon Floyd posted 17 points and nine steals, and teammate Josh Williams had 11 points.

Eddie Hubbard paced Thorsby with 15 points.

The No. 2 seed Chilton girls were the school’s less expected tournament champion, as Thorsby was both the No. 1 seed and the defending champion.

The play was uneven early as neither team could solve the other’s zone defense. CCHS’s backcourt duo of Tylita Harrell and Bevin Hawkins, however, regularly broke Thorsby’s full-court press, not allowing the Rebels any fast-break opportunities.

The Tigers (6-7) held a 20-12 halftime lead that the Rebels (6-5) could never cut into.

CCHS’s Vernice Trimble led all scorers with 17 points, and Thorsby’s Sharonda Cooper was good for 17 points.