HANCEVILLE, Ala. – After handling Sumiton Christian in the Sub-Regional on Saturday, the Meek Tigers were back in action at Wallace State’s Tom Drake Coliseum on Tuesday to take on Athens Bible in the Sweet 16. With 11 lead changes and four ties, neither team was able to create much separation throughout the contest, but the Tigers pulled ahead to take a 2-point lead in the final minute of the fourth quarter and held up on the defensive end to secure a spot in the Elite Eight.
Three-pointers from Evan McCay and Conner Lane gave the Tigers a 6-3 lead early in the first quarter. Lane and Parker Ferguson each split a pair of free throws later in the period to keep Meek in front 8-5 and in the final seconds of the first, Brady Baxter knocked down a three to make it an 11-5 game going into the second.
Lane hit a free throw to keep the Tigers ahead 12-9 early in the second quarter. Briley Bowling drained a three to make it 15-12 later in the period and he knocked down a long jumper to extend the lead to 17-12 with two minutes remaining in the first half. A Ryan Ewing basket kept Meek in front 19-17 with less than a minute to play in the second but Athens Bible was able to tie the game at 19 by halftime.
Ferguson buried a three to give the Tigers a 22-21 lead early in the third quarter and after the Trojans answered with a 5-0 run to take their first lead of the game, Ferguson laid one in to trim the lead to 26-24 midway through the period. Athens Bible was able to build a 29-25 lead with two minutes remaining in the third but another basket from Ferguson and a three from McCay just before the buzzer cut the lead to 33-30 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Ferguson hit a baseline jumper early in the fourth to make it a 1-point game and Lane followed with a basket of his own on the next possession to give Meek a 34-33 lead. A pair of McCay baskets maintained a 38-37 lead for the Tigers and with just under two minutes to play, Ferguson laid one in to keep Meek in front 40-39. McCay added a free throw in the final minute of regulation to give the Tigers a 2-point lead and Athens Bible was unable to answer on the other end, allowing Meek to hold onto a 41-39 win and advance to the Northwest Regional finals.
Ferguson led the Tigers with 13 points, eight rebounds and a game-high six blocks. McCay posted 11 points, five of which came in the fourth quarter, and Lane added seven points in the win.
Meek will be back on the court Monday to face Hubbertville in the Elite Eight.
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