On March 15, 2024, the Jr. Bulldogs secured a thrilling 62-60 victory over the Jr. Cyclones in a double overtime showdown at the Tiger Classic held at Jonesborough Elementary. The match was a tense battle between two formidable middle school teams, both of which have aspirations for deep runs in their respective districts.
The Jr. Bulldogs entered the game hoping to build momentum before the upcoming Christmas break, while the Jr. Cyclones faced a significant challenge without their standout player, Creed Baker, who suffered a foot fracture the previous night. This absence intensified the stakes for the Cyclones, who displayed remarkable resilience throughout the contest.
The game commenced with both teams exchanging short scoring runs, failing to gain a significant advantage early on. Cyclones’ Carson Lyons tied the game at 6-6 with a crucial offensive rebound. Soon after, Jr. Cyclones’ Rider Witten stole the ball and scored, propelling his team to a 10-5 lead. The Bulldogs responded with a three-pointer from Wade Harrison in the closing seconds of the first quarter, keeping the game competitive.
In the second period, the Jr. Cyclones maintained a slight lead, with Witten leading the charge as he hit two three-pointers. The Cyclones went on a 9-1 run, culminating in Braylon Hopewell‘s floater to finish the half with a score of 21-14 in their favor.
The Bulldogs quickly countered in the third quarter. Harrison made two three-pointers, and Allison contributed a basket to give the Bulldogs a 27-26 lead with just under four minutes left in the period. They extended their lead to 35-28 when Rylen Jones hit a jumper and Allison scored from beyond the arc. The Cyclones, however, were not to be outdone, as Witten hit his third three-pointer and Drake Lytton added a layup to close the gap to 37-35 by the end of the quarter.
As the fourth quarter unfolded, both teams continued to trade baskets. With just over a minute left, Jayden Johnson gave the Bulldogs a 43-41 lead, only for Tristen Cole to tie the game with a bank shot. The Bulldogs had a chance to secure victory in regulation but missed crucial free throws, sending the game into overtime.
In the first overtime, the Bulldogs quickly gained the lead with a basket from Harrison, followed by two made free throws from Jones, putting them ahead 49-46. With five seconds remaining, Cyclones’ Collin Whitehead hit a desperation three-pointer, forcing a second overtime.
The second overtime began with Jr. Cyclones’ Stephen Gorby giving his team a brief lead at 55-53 with a floater. The Bulldogs responded with two three-pointers from Allison, taking a 60-56 advantage with less than a minute remaining. After a Bulldog turnover and a Cyclones score, Johnson managed to tie the game at 60 with under 20 seconds left.
In a dramatic finish, Hopewell made a layup while being defended, giving the Bulldogs a hard-fought 62-60 victory, with less than three seconds on the clock.
Postgame, Bulldogs’ coach Leon Tolley praised both teams for their performance, stating, “We knew it would be a game of runs. They outplayed us early. To their credit, their late-game situational play was better than ours.” He emphasized the absence of Baker, highlighting the toughness displayed by the Cyclones despite the loss.
Gorby led the Cyclones with 19 points, while Witten contributed 14 and Lyons added 12. For the Bulldogs, both Jones and Harrison scored 17 points, with Allison contributing 14. The competitive nature of this encounter leaves the door open for a potential rematch in the tournament championship game scheduled for Monday afternoon, adding to the anticipation surrounding both teams.
