Tigers Dribble Out Clock to Claim Cliffhanger

The hot hand of Tyler New put Worth County ahead early, but then the Tigers had to cling to a lead late before getting the 26-25 win over Avenue City last Tuesday in the first round of the NEN Junior High Tournament.

Back to back jacks by Tyler put the Tigers out in front 6-0 one minute into the game, then Kolten Smith got him a quick outlet after a defensive board that he converted to make it 8-0.

Avenue City fought back as Ethan Zeit scored off a drive and a 3-pointer to make it 8-5, but Tyler New scored off a steal to make it 10-5 after one. New scored all 10 Tiger points in the first quarter.

Zeit brought his Aces back to within 13-9 with 2:33; he had all nine points for Avenue City up to that point. But then Kolten Smith got loose inside for a pass from Tyler New and New had consecutive steals to put the Tigers back in double digits up 19-9 at the half.

Carson Briner put the Tigers in front 22-11 to start the third quarter with a 3-pointer, but then Avenue City started chipping away as the Tigers could not buy a defensive board in the second half. The Aces worked the offensive glass at will, chipping away for most of the remainder of the game until they finally tied it at 22 with 1:52 left.

But then Tyler New scored a free throw to break the tie and then the second went out of bounds off Avenue City to give the Tigers the ball back with 1:46 left. Tyler New converted a 3-pointer to put Worth County back in front 26-22.

Zeit answered with a triple of his own with 45 seconds left, but then Avenue City could not stop the clock the rest of the way, as they didn’t have enough fouls to put Worth County on the line, and Tyler New was able to dribble out the remaining 45 seconds for the win.

Tyler New had 18 points for the Tigers. Carson Briner had 3, Cannon Fletcher had 3, and Kolten Smith had 2.

Kolten Smith had 5 blocks and Tyler New 1.

Kolten Smith had 9 boards. Tyler New had 4, Cannon Fletcher, Robert Staton, and Carter Chapman had 3 each, and Carson Briner had 2.

Tyler New had 3 assists. Carson Briner had 2, and Cannon Fletcher and Kolten Smith had 1.

Tyler New had 3 tips, as did Carson Briner. Cannon Fletcher had 1.

Tyler New had 5 steals. Carson Briner had 2, and Robert Staton, Carter Chapman, and Kolten Smith had 1.