Mustangs are Runner-Up After USJ Buzzer-Beater

HUNTINGDON (December 30) — The Huntingdon High School Point Guard Coca-Cola Boys' Christmas Tournament ended in thrilling fashion Tuesday night as the USJ Bruins defeated the host Mustangs 62-61 to claim the championship.

The barnburner saw momentum swings culminating in a wild fourth quarter rife with lead changes, an exciting nightcap for a full day of games determining final tournament placement.

Championship: USJ Bruins 62, Huntingdon Mustangs 61

Huntingdon had a 16-10 lead after the first frame. A close second quarter ended with a 29-22 Mustang lead at the half. The Bruins rallied 20-12 in the third for a one-point advantage heading into the final frame.

The Mustangs had some momentum early in the fourth, but it was back-and-forth down the stretch. With ten seconds left, Mustang Kelton Johnson drained a three-pointer to give Huntingdon a two-point advantage. USJ hurried the ball down the court, and Bruin Campbell Vailes fired off a three as time expired for the win.

Bruin Houston Brasfield led all scorers with 21 points, including five three-pointers. Reid Finney scored 18 with a three. Vailes had 14 points with a pair of threes. Sam Keyl scored five points with a three-pointer, and Jake Payne had four points.

Kelton Johnson led Huntingdon with 18 points, including a pair of threes. Caleb Ezell and Kenton Smith each scored 13, Ezell with a pair of threes and Smith with one. Bryson Whiteside had a dozen points. Garvin Kee hit a three, and Jayden Williams had a pair.

Third Place: Riverside Panthers 66, Lake County Falcons 56

Riverside led 19-11 after the opening frame and 30-23 at the half. The Falcons cut the deficit with a 16-13 edge in the third, but the Panthers sealed the win with a 21-17 tilt in the fourth.

Panther Jack Cupples led all scorers with 22 points.

Jax Poole led Lake County with 21 points.

Fifth Place: Dyer County Choctaws 75, Greenfield Yellowjackets 55

The Choctaws had a 22-16 lead after the first frame and led 42-33 at the half. They pulled away with a 19-9 advantage in the third and clinched the victory with a 14-13 edge in the fourth.

Yellowjacket Cruz Porter led all scorers with 18 points, including a pair of three-pointers.

C. Dodds and T. Sebourn led Dyer County with eleven points each, Dodds with a three.

Seventh Place: Gibson County Pioneers 70, West Carroll War Eagles 49

Gibson County jumped out to a 17-6 lead after the opening frame. West Carroll had a 19-18 edge in the second to cut the halftime deficit to 35-25. The Pioneers pulled away with a 23-12 advantage in the third, and the fourth was a 12-12 wash.

Pioneer Trajan Eddings led all scorers with 25 points, including six three-pointers. Skyler Robertson scored 13 with a trio of threes. Brett Russell had nine points on a trio of threes. Jayden Southerland scored eight, and Braylen Griffie had six. Ja'kayden Ivie scored four points, and Brayden Duvall hit a three-pointer.

Mason Taylor led West Carroll with eleven points. Chandler Rimmer and Demarion Gilbert each scored nine, Rimmer with a pair of threes and Gilbert with one. Bryler O'Neal had seven points with a three, and Trey Williamson scored five. Dhamyus Gilbert and Kaven Baker each hit a three, and Chance Weatherford had a pair.