CULLMAN, Ala. – The stands were packed in Bearcat Arena for this year’s 6A, Area 13 Championship Game Wednesday night and the crowd enjoyed another thriller between Cullman and Jasper. The Vikings led by as many as 17 at one point in the opening period but the Bearcats continued to climb back and chip away until finally pulling ahead in the fourth quarter. Cullman finished the final frame strong to earn a 66-61 win over Jasper and claim their fourth consecutive area championship.
‘Cats head coach Stu Stuedeman shared the message he gave his team after falling behind early and was proud of the way they continued to fight despite the early deficit.
“Stay the course, chop the leg, keep hitting singles, keep playing for each other and wake up on defense,” Stuedeman said. “We did that and I’m so proud of them because they could’ve gone away. It’s hard in a three-team area because you have the bye, and I’d rather play. It looked like we hadn’t played in a week but kudos to our guys. They did an unbelievable job of just staying the course.”
The Vikings got off to a fast start, knocking down a pair of three-pointers to take a 6-0 lead. Brooks Loftin laid one in to cut the lead to 6-2 and after Jasper put another six points on the board, Preston Gay drilled a three to make it a 12-5 game. The Vikings pulled ahead 21-5 at one point but Loftin split a pair of free throws and Sam Dorough scored inside to trim the lead to 23-8 going into the second quarter.
The Bearcats battled back in the second. Jake Dorough scored eight of the next nine Cullman points to bring the lead down to 31-17 midway through the period. Then Sam Dorough followed with six straight points of his own to make it a 34-23 game. Evans Wilson laid one in and Gay knocked down another three to cut the lead to 8 with less than a minute remaining in the second quarter. Sam Dorough converted an and-one play at the line in the final 30 seconds of the half to bring the lead down to 36-31 at the break.
Baskets by Loftin and Sam Dorough made it a 38-35 game early in the third quarter. Loftin scored through a foul and tacked on the free throw to tie things up at 38 and after Jasper moved back in front by five, Gay drained another three to cut the lead to 43-41 later in the period. Baskets from Jake Dorough and Gay tied the game at 45 with just over a minute to play in the third. Jasper took a 50-45 lead in the final minute of the period, but Loftin laid one in to make it a 3-point game and Jake Dorough buried a three from half court just before the buzzer to tie the game at 50 going into the final frame.
Sam Dorough scored early in the fourth to give the ‘Cats their first lead of the night at 52-50. Gay turned a steal into an easy basket to keep Cullman in front 54-53 midway through the period and Jake Dorough converted an and-one play at the line to give the Bearcats a 57-53 lead. Wilson scored inside to make it a 59-53 game with three minutes remaining and Jake Dorough finished another three-point play at the line to maintain a 62-57 Cullman lead with less than two minutes on the clock. The ‘Cats finished things off at the free throw line in the final 90 seconds, securing a 66-61 win and the area title.
Jake Dorough led the Bearcats with 19 points in the win. Sam Dorough followed with 17, Gay posted 13 and Loftin added 12.
6A, Area 13 All-Area Team selections
Gray Hopper
Brooks Loftin
Sam Dorough
Jake Dorough
Evan Wilson
Preston Gay
6A, Area 13 All-Tournament Team selections
Jake Dorough (MVP)
Preston Gay
Sam Dorough
Cullman will be back home at Bearcat Arena Saturday night at 6 p.m. to host a sub-regional matchup against Clay Chalkville.
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