CULLMAN, Ala. – After defeating Jasper to win the area title earlier this week, Cullman was back home at Bearcat Arena Saturday night for a sub-regional battle with Clay-Chalkville. The Bearcats fell behind at halftime but climbed back to take the lead late in the third quarter. Unfortunately for the home crowd, the Cougars hit a go-ahead three-pointer late in the final frame to take a 50-49 lead and Cullman was unable to answer on the other end, bringing another strong season for the Bearcats to an end.
Brooks Loftin laid one in to give Cullman a 2-0 start and after Clay-Chalkville hit a three on the other end, Evan Wilson split a pair of free throws to keep the game tied at 3. Wilson scored two more baskets to give the Bearcats a 7-4 lead later in the period. The Cougars were able to the things up at 7 but Sam Dorough drilled a deep three from just over the halfcourt line to put the ‘Cats in front 10-7 going into the second quarter.
Loftin scored inside to give Cullman a 12-7 lead early in the second quarter and Wilson laid one in to make it a 14-10 game later in the period. However, Clay-Chalkville outscored the Bearcats 11-1 in the final three minutes of the half to take a 21-15 lead into the locker room at the break.
Jake Dorough scored the first eight points of the third for Cullman to trim the lead to 26-23. Baskets by Loftin and Wilson held the lead to 32-27 but later in the period, Jake Dorough and Preston Gay buried a pair of three-pointers to put the Bearcats back in front 35-34. Loftin added another basket in the final moments of the third to give Cullman a 37-34 lead at the start of the fourth.
Loftin scored through a foul and tacked on the free throw to keep the ‘Cats in front 40-39 early in the fourth quarter. Wilson scored inside and Dorough drained another three to maintain a 45-42 Cullman lead with five minutes to play and another bucket by Loftin made it 47-42. Gay hit a pair of free throws to make it a 49-45 game with 1:19 on the clock but that’s when the Cougars began to claw their way back. They cut the lead to 2 with less than a minute to play and knocked down a three with just 15 seconds remaining to take a 50-49 lead. The Bearcats were able to get off one more shot attempt as the final seconds ticked away but the ball bounced off the back iron and Clay-Chalkville was able to escape with a 50-49 win.
Dorough and Wilson both posted 14 points in the loss and Loftin added 13.
Cullman finishes its season 26-5, with a new school record for regular season wins. This year’s senior class will also graduate with a school record 104 career wins.
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