JASPER, Ala.- The 19-3 Cullman Bearcats traveled to Jasper on Tuesday night to take on their rival Vikings, who were 15-4 before tonight’s game. Cullman, who was without their three-level scoring forward Sam Dorough, struggled to settle into the game at any point. Further disrupting the Bearcats was Jasper’s duo of 6-4 Jarrell Johnson and 6-5 Braylen Johnson, who combined for eight blocks on the night. Without one of their leading scorers and a lack of offensive rhythm, and in front of a hostile crowd that gave the game a playoff feel, the Bearcats fell 43-40.
Dorough’s absence was felt from the first possession. The Bearcats started a lineup that, 6-7 Brooks Loftin aside, lacked size and slashing ability. On the offensive end, Jasper’s defense was impenetrable. Both of the Vikings’ Johnsons are erratic defenders, with quick feet and active hands in addition to freakish athleticism. With a guard that plays as sticky of defense as Brodey Garrett in the mix, the Vikings’ defense was a brick wall on the perimeter. It forced the Bearcats into uncomfortable shots in low shot-clock situations often, and they’d only hit three the entire first quarter, with two deep balls and a layup. Cullman’s Emory Bonds scored five of the Bearcats eight first quarter points. On the other end, those size issues were inverted. Jasper scored with ease, often, in the first period. Backdoor passes led to up-and-under layups, and Jarrell Johnson got the crowd roaring early with a one-handed slam. The Vikings took a 13-8 lead into the second.
Being forced to shoot from outside for much of the first, Cullman continued to try and find their way to paint points. After a three by Everett Swindall pulled them closer to the Vikings, down 17-11, they grabbed a steal on the other end and it felt like the tides were turning. Swindall drove to the baseline and made a sweet pass to Loftin, who was coming downhill on a backdoor cut, but Braylen Johnson met him at the rim, smacking the ball into the crowd. It was the first of the game for Braylen, who finished the night with six blocks in addition to eight points and a pair of steals. Loftin stepped up soon after, however, drilling a three-pointer from the top of the key to quiet the crowd after another emphatic jam from Jarrell Johnson. The momentum then became real for Cullman after Max Brooks hit a deep-ball to bring them within four at the half, only down 21-17.
Opening the second half was a Loftin putback that he had to fight hard for, grabbing two of his own rebounds before the shot would fall. The Vikings struck back quickly though, answering Cullman’s momentum with an eight point run, all scored on layups, that put them up 29-19. After a Bonds layup and a pair of free throws from Brooks, the Vikings would tack on seven more. Scratching and clawing for every basket, the Bearcats put in a pair of putbacks to close out the third down 37-28.
The fourth quarter saw Cullman come to life. Loftin, who’d been working the boards all night, starting coming down with 50-50 rebounds more often, but the Bearcats still had trouble scoring inside the arc. After a Loftin putback made it 37-30, Cullman’s Owen Graves hit a huge three to bring the team within four. On the next possession, however, Jasper’s Keegan Keeton would hit a corner three to extend the lead back to seven. Graves sunk a pair of free throws to make it 40-35, then a three from Gray Hopper brought Cullman within two. Then, the comeback was complete, Loftin sunk a hook shot to tie the game up at 40 with just under a minute and a half to go. Braylen Johnson would get behind the defense for an and-one on a layup to make it 43-40, but there was still 1:22 on the clock. After a missed Cullman three, the Vikings would go on to turn the ball over four times in the final 82 seconds. They stepped out of bounds, committed an over-and-back violation, traveled and coughed the ball up. That defense that gave them the lead in the first place returned to seal a 43-40 Viking win, however.
Loftin led Cullman with 11 points, 13 rebounds and a pair of blocks. He had two of the Bearcats’ three total blocks, compared to Jasper’s 11. The steal count wasn’t much better for Cullman, as Jasper racked up 12 steals compared to their two. The Vikings’ interior defense was the difference in the game, which ended with a fiery celebration from Jarrell Johnson who finished with a game-high 16 points, two rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals. The 19-4 Bearcats won’t have to wait long to potentially avenge tonight’s loss, as they’ll host Jasper on the 22nd in what’s sure to be another raucous environment.
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