Tigers beat rivals with clutch buckets

By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
After missing her first six 3-point shots against Austin Saturday night, Cheslea Billings saved her best for last.
The Hartselle guard scored on a 3-pointer from nearly 25 feet to send the Lady Tigers to a 52-51 double overtime victory over the Lady Black Bears at the J.C. Pettey Center.
The shot, easily the longest of Billings’ career, banked in at the buzzer and ignited a raucous celebration at mid-court from the Hartselle players and fans.
The game was played in front of the largest crowd of the season. The Saturday game featured the crowning of the winter homecoming king and queen.
It all may have been too much for Billings’ mother.
Billings finished with 14 points and was one of the few starters left on the court in the second overtime period. Alex Holmes, who led the Lady Tigers with 15 points, fouled out with about three minutes remaining in regulation. Katie Young went to the bench with her fifth foul in the first overtime.
Taylor White added nine points with three 3-pointers.
Hartselle’s final shot in the closing seconds was supposed to be taken by White, but Austin crowded her to take away the shot.
That left Billings open.
Billings watched the game-winner from the floor after being pushed down by an Austin defender.
Hartselle opened up a 14-11 lead in the first quarter and the two teams played close throughout regulation. Austin outscored the Lady Tigers 13-10 in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime.
Austin had a chance to win the game at the end of the fourth quarter, but Nikkia Jordan missed one of two free throws that would have won the game.
Hartselle 56, Austin 55
Taking a page from the girls’ playbook, Hartselle scored on a last-second basket by Manquez Jones to beat the Black Bears 56-55.
Rodney Stansberry had one of his best shooting nights of the season, hitting nine of his 11 attempts from the field to finish with a game-high 22 points.
Zach Orr added 11 points, while Manquez Jones finished with 10 points.
Manquez Jones’ game-winner came off a pass from his twin brother, Marquez, as he outran Austin’s Jay Watkins.
Austin took a 55-54 advantage over Hartselle when Verkeneo Mann hit the first of two free throws with six seconds left.
Mann missed the second shot and Stansberry came up with the rebound and quickly got the ball out to Marquez Jones to start the run to the final shot.
Hartselle turned the ball over just a possession earlier that could have given the Tigers a lead with 12 seconds left.
Mann forced the turnover and he went to the free throw line after getting fouled.
His miss on the second attempt allowed the Tigers another chance to get the win over the Black Bears.
Watkins scored 18 points to lead Austin. Ricky Sears added 14.
Hartselle improved to 13-8 with its second-straight solid defensive performance. The Tigers allowed just 50 against Austin and 55 in a win over Brewer.