Timely 3-point shooting helped Thorsby’s boys basketball team to a 73-60 win over Billingsley on Friday.

The game marked the first time the two schools, which are separated by about 20 miles, competed in basketball in several years.

The contest was close for most of the first period. With about 1 minute left, however, Thorsby’s Evan Bryan drained consecutive 3-pointers to give his team a 19-11 lead going into the second period.

Bryan is a regular contributor from beyond the arc, but the Rebels (4-9) also got some long distance shots from an unexpected source.

“We got a big boost from Blake Elkins,” Thorsby coach Corey Clements said. “He hit three 3’s. He’s never done that before.”

Billingsley, meanwhile, went cold from long- and short-distance in the second half.

The Bears made one 3-pointer in 10 attempts in the half. They were 10-for-36 on regular field goals and were 7-for-18 from the free throw line for the game.

Marcus Bray posted 18 points and 15 rebounds for Thorsby. Andrew Farris also had a double-double—his read 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Bryan scored 16 points.

Raphael Brooks and Carlos Caver scored 16 points each for Billingsley.

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Rebels top gritty Bears

Thorsby’s girls struggled at times but eventually put away a gritty Billingsley team, 58-45, to improve its record to 14-1.

Billingsley held an early 6-4 lead, but Thorsby gained a 12-10 advantage at the end of one period.

On the first possession of the second quarter, Sharonda Cooper stole a pass and then layed it in. That play sparked an 8-1 Thorsby run, and Billingsley wouldn’t record a field goal for the first 3 minutes of the frame.

The Bears trailed 22-12 before Viola Tyus’s layup, but the hosts wouldn’t go easily.

Billingsley cut it to 26-21 in the second quarter on a Mary Beth Walker 2, but Thorsby led 31-22 at halftime and 45-30 after three quarters.

Lori Davis scored 19 points for Billingsley, and Viola Tyus had 12 points.

Cooper led all scorers with 24 points.

Teammate Ashlin Hilyer scored 14 points, including going 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to help ice the game.

Thorsby’s Amanda Hubbard scored 11 points.