Two tough losses in games decided in the final seconds left Montgomery County a half game out of first place in MHSAA Region 5-1A .
After defeating Ethel 49-39, the Hornets were beaten by Coffeeville 54-49 and McAdams 48-44. Those results left Montgomery County with a 6-2 region record (17-5 overall) prior to a game Tuesday at Coffeeville. McAdams is a half game ahead with a 7-2 mark and Coffeeville is another game back at 5-3.
Regular season standings determine seeding for the six-team region tournament scheduled for February 13, 15 and 16 at Coffeeville. The top four in the tournament advance to the MHSAA playoffs, with the winner and runnerup earning home court for the first game.
“I'm not even thinking about the tournament now,” said Montgomery County coach Frank Miller. “We could finish anywhere from one to four.”
The top two in regular season play earn first round byes in the tournament.
Decoreyon Small led the Hornets against Ethel with 18 points, including 8 of 8 from the free throw line. Katicion Winfrey and Deterrious Williams each scored nine points.
“They (Ethel) have a scrappy team, but we ground out a win,” Miller said.
A late call that went against Montgomery County was pivotal in the loss to Coffeeville. With the Pirates leading 52-49, Small made a basket and there was a whistle. But instead of a blocking foul that would have sent Small to the line with a chance to tie the game, he was called for a charge, nullifying the basket. Two Coffeeville free throws clinched the win “It's a judgment call either way,” Miller said.
Montgomery County led 26-23 at the half, but was outscored 19-12 in the third quarter.
Williams led the Hornets with 14 points. Small had 13 and Chris Harris had nine off the bench on three 3-pointers.
Montgomery County trailed McAdams 46-44 in the final seconds when Williams put up a three-point attempt to give the Hornets a lead. “It rimmed out,” Miller said.
Montgomery County took a 36-26 lead by scoring the first 13 points of the third quarter, but McAdams battled back. “We couldn't hold on,” Miller said. “We didn't rebound and we didn't get the loose balls. We missed some crucial free throws down the stretch. When we hold a team to 48 points, we should win.”
Small scored 23 points in a 62-44 win over McAdams 11 days earlier. This time he drew double coverage from the Bulldogs and was held to nine points, 16 below his average. Winfrey scored 13 and Williams had 10.
The Hornets will conclude the regular season Friday with a home game against Durant.
Lady Hornets
The Montgomery County girls basketball team had a two-point win over Coffeeville sandwiched between losses to Ethel and McAdams. The Lady Hornets edged Coffeeville 37-35, but were beaten by Ethel 66-42 and McAdams 78-35.
The results left Montgomery County in fourth place in MHSAA Region 5-1A with a 4-4 record going into a rematch Tuesday at Coffeeville. The Lady Hornets are 14-9 overall.
Four late free throws down the stretch enabled the Lady Hornets to beat Coffeeville. Tatyana Womach made two to tie the score, Jasmine Salley put Montgomery County ahead with a single free throw and Womack added the final one.
“We got down in the game, but we rallied together and found a way to win,” said Coach Jeremy Robinson. “We haven't been able to shoot like we normally do. Hopefully we will come out of this slump before the district tournament.”
The six-team tournament at Coffeeville begins Feb. 13.
The Lady Hornets dug an early hole against Ethel, falling behind 25-10 at the half and never recovered. “We didn't play well defensively and it kind of got away from us,” Robinson said. “When you only score 10 points in the first half you are putting yourself in trouble.”
It was a major reversal from an early season game with Ethel when Montgomery County rallied in the fourth quarter for a 54-40 win.
McAdams jumped out to an 18-6 lead after the first quarter and coasted to the win. “They (McAdams) are what they are. They are a very good basketball team.,” Robinson said.
McAdams was led by 6-1 senior center Kneisha Erving, who had 27 points on 12 of 16 shooting and nine rebounds. “She's hard to contain on the inside,” Robinson said.
Tatyana Kenney was the Lady Hornets' high scorer against Coffeeville with 14 points and against McAdams with 12. Womack scored 13 points in the Ethel game and Kenney had 10.
