CULLMAN, Ala. – After getting a hard-fought win in the Class 6A, Area 13 championship game at Jasper on Tuesday night, the Cullman Bearcats got the chance to host their Sub-Regional game once again on Saturday night, taking on the Hazel Green Trojans. Cullman looked to get back to Wallace after falling in their Sub-Regional game last season, and it was a tough battle from start to finish. Cullman trailed by six going into the final period, but some huge treys by Emory Bonds, some big free throws by Sam Dorough, Owen Graves, and Gray Hooper, and one more defensive stop helped the Bearcats get past the Trojans 55-53 making it back to Regionals for the fourth time in five years.
Both teams traded baskets and Hazel Green made a shot in the paint to take a 9-8 lead. Sam Dorough got fouled after making a tough shot down low and ended up completing the three-point play from the free throw line to give Cullman an 11-9 lead. Loftin put in a reverse layup to put the Bearcats ahead, 13-10, late in the first. A couple of late baskets by the Trojans, though, gave them the lead right back at 14-13 going into the second.
Hazel Green carried that momentum over into the second period, as they scored six straight points to stretch their lead to 20-13 with 4:39 remaining in the first half. Dorough once again scored through a foul and ended up hitting the free throw to cut it to 20-16. After a reverse layup by the Trojans made it 22-16, Dorough found Owen Graves in the left corner for a three to trim it to three at 22-19. Hazel Green, though, countered with an 8-3 run to widen their lead to 30-22. Dorough knocked down a pair of free throws to make it a 30-24 game at the half.
Loftin found Dorough in the right corner for a three, then Dorough found Jonathan Witcher in that same corner for another trey to tie the game up at 30. Dorough drove to the basket and scored to give Cullman a 32-30 lead. Just like in the second quarter, though, the Trojans would respond with another big run, as they scored eight straight points to grab a 38-32 lead with 2:26 remaining in the third. Both teams traded baskets and points to end the third quarter, and Hazel Green would hold a slim 42-36 lead going into the final period.
Cullman came out red-hot to start out the fourth, as Loftin hit another basket in the paint, and Emory Bonds caught fire from behind the three-point line, drilling three straight treys to put the Bearcats ahead, 46-44. A late basket by the Trojans gave them the lead right back at 47-46. Dorough buried two more free throws to give Cullman a 48-47 lead with 1:55 remaining in the game. With 1:11 remaining in the contest, Gray Hopper found a cutting Loftin down low for two, and Graves put in two free throws to put Cullman ahead, 52-48. Hazel Green knocked down a three from the top of the key to cut it to 54-53. Hopper split his free throws to make it 55-53, and the Trojans’ last chance to win the game was off the mark, as Cullman ended up holding off Hazel Green 55-53 to make a return trip back to Regionals.
Dorough finished with 19 points for the Bearcats. Loftin put in 14 points, and Bonds ended up with nine points.
Cullman will take on the Clay-Chalkville/Decatur winner next week at the Northwest Regionals at Tom Drake Coliseum with the time and date to be determined.
SCORES FROM AROUND CULLMAN (Sub-regional boys matchups)
Addison 62, Athens Bible 26
Cold Springs 58, Lamar County 48
Winfield 60, Vinemont 38
Boaz 62, West Point 46
