CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman Bearcats were back home Friday night for their regular season finale against Gardendale and after celebrating senior night, the ‘Cats collected an 85-63 win over the Rockets. Cullman seniors Jamar Kay, Tucker Gambrill, Roy Grimmett, Tucker Apel and Max Gambrill were all recognized along with senior members of the cheerleaders and the dance team before tipping things off.
The Bearcats got off to a fast start, jumping ahead 5-0 after a three-pointer and a layup from Tucker Gambrill. Jamar Kay added a three of his own to make it 8-2 and Garrison Sharpe scored to stretch the lead to eight. Baskets by Tucker Cagle and Nills made it a 14-2 game and Sharpe drilled a three-pointer to give the ‘Cats a 17-2 lead just three minutes into the opening period. In the final minute of the first quarter, Kay nailed two more threes to stretch the lead to 25-6 and give Cullman a 21-point lead going into the second.
Sharpe split a pair of free throws before knocking down another three-pointer to make it 30-11 and baskets from Cagle and Zills extended the lead to 34-15 midway through the second quarter. Sharpe’s third trey of the night made it a 37-15 game and in the final seconds of the period, Zills and Sharpe each laid one in to give the Bearcats a 44-24 lead at halftime.
A pair of Tucker Gambrill buckets and another putback by Zills stretched the lead to 50-24 at the start of the third quarter but the Rockets went on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 17 midway through the period. That’s when Sam Duskin drained a three and scored inside on the next possession to end the Gardendale run and Tucker Gambrill added another three to make it a 58-33 game. Max Gambrill and Sharpe each knocked down three-pointers late in the third to add to the lead and Max Gambrill scored one more at the rim just before the buzzer to put Cullman in front 67-36 going into the final frame.
The hot clock was running throughout the fourth quarter but the ‘Cats were still able to add to their lead. Garrett Hall buried a three to make it 76-47 a few minutes into the fourth and Duskin and Arden Crane each followed with threes of their own to extend the lead to 82-56. To wrap up a successful senior night, Bearcats senior manager Roy Grimmett entered the game, drew a foul and knocked down a pair of free throws to make it put the Bearcats in front 84-58. Cullman went on to defeat the Rockets 85-63 and finish the regular season with an impressive mark of 22-3.
Sharpe led the way for the ‘Cats with 19 points in the win, followed by Tucker Gambrill with 14, Zills with 12 and Kay with nine. Cullman will be back home Tuesday night at 7:30 to host an area tournament battle against Decatur.
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