Brewer loses heartbreaker at regionals

HANCEVILLE – Russellville’s Matthew Duncan hit a shot with just over 10 seconds left to defeat Brewer 55-54 in the Class 5A Northwest Regional semifinals Tuesday.

Brewer’s Jordan Bowling had a shot to win it at the buzzer, but it didn’t fall.

Bowling finished 21 points and 5 assists to lead all scorers in the game. He was the only Patriot in double figures.

Russellville jumped out to an 11-2 to lead to open the game, but Brewer rallied with a 14-6 stretch in the remainder of the quarter to trail 17-16 by the end of the first quarter.

The Golden Tigers won a tough, defensive second quarter 15-9 to lead 32-25 at halftime.

Brewer whittled the lead down to 35-33 by the 5-minute mark of the third quarter, but Russellville pushed the lead up to 47-37 with a Brent Calloway field goal with just 35 seconds left in the third quarter.

That would be the last time Russellville made a field goal until the last minute of the game.

Brewer went on a 15-5 run through the 3:50 mark of the fourth quarter, when Garrett Crawford hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 52.

With 43 seconds left, Brewer fouled Russellville Will Bostick, sending him to the line for two shots. He only made one of two shots.

Brewer came down to their end of the floor and Jordan Bowling was fouled. He made both shots, giving Brewer its only lead of the game.

However, Russellville had the answer. Duncan made the Golden Tigers’ only field goal in the final 8:35 of the game, but it was the most important to put Russellville back on top for good.

Brewer called a timeout with 9.8 seconds left to set up one final play, but the shot just didn’t fall.

Behind Jordan Bowling was Taylor Bowling with 8 points and 9 rebounds. T.J. Graham also had 8 points and 5 rebounds. Garrett Crawford and Matthew Crowe added 6 points each followed by Hunter Bramlett with 3 and Matthew Whittle with 2.

Bostick led Rusellville with 17 points and 6 rebounds.