Hayden Sanders hit a late 3-pointer against Albany to give the Tiger boys the lead for good and the Tigers were able to hold on to beat the Warriors 48-45 Tuesday, December 17th. Despite Albany being shorthanded without Chase Cline, it was the Tigers who dug themselves into a hole. Kyle Emerson cut inside to put the Warriors on the board first. Lucas Frisch knotted it up with a drive, but then a backdoor layup from Jarrett Smith, a steal from Emerson, and a shot from the high post by Daulton Worrell put the Warriors up 9-2 just three minutes into the game.
It didn't help Worth County that Cole Ruby picked up two quick fouls right off the bat, depriving them of one of their main scoring weapons.
The ball for the Warriors was revolving around Shae Miller in the post, who was finding the open man to convert. Albany had shot 50% against Stanberry in their win over the Bulldogs early in the season and looked to be doing the same against Worth County.
Hayden Sanders finally broke the Warrior run with a triple, but Smith had the hot hand for them, getting seven of his team's 15 points in the first quarter as they built it up to 15-7 with 50 seconds left.
But then a pair of costly fouls hurt the Warriors and let the Tigers right back in the game. First, Sanders converted a three point play and drew Emerson's second foul, making a thin Warrior bench even thinner. Then, a makeup foul after the Warriors had subsequently turned it over with the Tigers in the bonus led to two free throws from Karson Briner to make it 15-12 after one. Albany had completely outplayed Worth County in the period, but thanks to the costly fouls, Worth County was still in the game.
Ruby came back in the second quarter; Worth County went to their 1-3-1 trapping zone and Ruby had an immediate impact, jumping a pass to make it 15-14. Worrell got a steal and a makeup foul put him on the line, where he made one of two. Cole Ruby went two for two from the line after a drive. Samuel Poppa scooped up a carom and drove and converted to make it 18-16, but Cole Ruby knotted it up again and then added a 3-pointer after a pass from Frisch to put the Tigers up 21-18.
Despite foul trouble from Albany, they chipped away, getting a free throw from Jarrett Smith, another free throw from Daulton Worrell, and a drive from Smith to go ahead 23-21, only for Karson Briner to hit a baseline shot and for Hayden Sanders to get a steal to put the Tigers up 25-23.
Worth County stole the ball back late in the half, and the referees called a charge in a transition situation for what should have been Cole Ruby's third foul with 18 seconds left. But the referees gave the foul to Franklynn Taute, who was spotted up in the corner waiting for a pass instead, meaning that Cole was still on the floor in the fourth when he picked up a foul early in the period.
Worrell's free throw cut the Warrior deficit to 25-24 at the half, and the game was tied at 27, 29, and 31 in the third before Cole Ruby drove and drew a foul late in the period, converting both free throws to make it 33-31. Hayden Sanders followed with a 3-pointer to make it 36-31 after three; Worth County offset their rebounding deficit at the line, where they went 10 for their first 10.
Karson Briner scored from inside set up by Cannon Fletcher's drive to make it 38-31, but then Worth County bailed out Jarrett Smith after he was surrounded by Tigers and unlikely to do anything; he made one of two and that sparked a Warrior run. Four straight from Daulton Worrell cut it to 38-36. Karson Briner knocked one down from the left wing and Lucas Frisch hit Cannon Fletcher backdoor to make it 42-36 after Worrell had picked up his fourth foul, but then Jace Palmer came off the bench and provided a hot hand, knocking down a pair of inside shots to make it 42-39 with 4:00 left. Worrell came back and scored off a steal to make it 42-41 with 2:38 left.
Shae Miller caused a tieup on the other end, giving the ball back to the Warriors. Once again, Jace Palmer got the ball. He missed, but got the offensive board before Sanders knocked it out of bounds. A pass from Miller to Smith with 1:55 left put the Warriors in front 43-42.
But Worth County answered right back as the Tigers inbounded underneath their own basket to Lucas Frisch, who threw it to Hayden Sanders, who hit a closely guarded three over Daulton Worrell to put the Tigers back in front for good at 45-43 with 1:22 left. Worrell traveled on the other end, and Albany had fouls to give, meaning Worth County was able to take a big chunk of time off the clock before Cole Ruby made one of two to make it 46-43.
On the ensuing possession, Cole Ruby knocked it out of bounds off Jace Palmer with 17 seconds left and then Albany fouled Hayden Sanders with 16 seconds left. He made one of two to make it 47-43. But then Palmer knocked one down from the high post with 7 seconds left to make it 47-45 and keep the Warriors hopes alive. Worth County got it in to Karson Briner with 6 seconds left and he made one of two to make it 48-45.
Albany had to go the full length of the floor to attempt a 3-pointer, and Worth County had a foul to give. Hayden Sanders fouled one of the Warrior players, and they had to inbounds it three quarters the length of the court with 2.4 seconds left. They got the look they wanted, but Worrell's off-balance three was short as time expired.
Hayden Sanders had 17, Cole Ruby 14, Karson Briner 13, and Cannon Fletcher and Lucas Frisch 2. It was Briner's second double figure game in three games; Worth County had been looking for him to get more of a role inside.
Karson Briner, Andrew Griffin, Hayden Sanders, and Lucas Frisch all had 1 block.
Lucas Frisch and Cole Ruby had 6 boards. Karson Briner had 4, Ethan Lininger and Hayden Sanders 2, and Franklynn Taute and Cannon Fletcher 1.
Lucas Frisch had 5 assists. Hayden Sanders had 4, Cole Ruby 3, Karson Briner 2, and Cannon Fletcher and Franklynn Taute 1 each.
Cannon Fletcher had 3 tips. Franklynn Taute, Cole Ruby, Karson Briner, Lucas Frisch, and Hayden Sanders all had 1.
Cole Ruby had 4 steals. Karson Briner had 3, Hayden Sanders 2, and Cannon Fletcher and Lucas Frisch had 1 each.
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