Tigers hold off Mortimer Jordan for 58-54 win

Hartselle got a 58-54 win on the road at Mortimer Jordan Dec. 13. The Tigers, coming off back-to-back losses to Austin and Oxford, were playing their third game in four days.

Hartselle opened the game with a 6-4 run to lead early. Then, the teams combined for six three-pointers in a row to make the score 15-13. The Tigers closed the quarter with a 4-3 run to grab a 19-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Ryan Dunn and Kiah Key hit three-pointers to open the second quarter for the Tigers, who extended their lead out to 25-20. Mortimer Jordan responded with a 9-4 run to cut the lead to 31-29. The Tigers got an Oden free throw and a Ward layup to take a 33-31 lead into halftime.

The Blue Devils opened the third quarter with a 8-4 run to grab their first lead of the game, 39-37. Hartselle responded, however, with a 14-5 run to take a 51-44 lead into the fourth. Ward and Kohl Key each scored seven points in the quarter.

A Kiah Key basket pushed the Hartselle lead to 53-44 early in the fourth quarter. Mortimer Jordan held the Tigers scoreless for more than six minutes of the final quarter and cut the lead to 55-54 with less than a minute remaining.

Ward hit three of four free throws in the last 30 seconds to seal the Tigers’ four-point victory.

Ward led the Tigers with 15 points and six rebounds. Kiah Key finished with his fourth double-double, 13 points and 10 rebounds. He also had four steals, three assists and a block. Thomas Itsede had 10 points and five rebounds.

Austin Morris scored 14 points to lead Mortimer Jordan. Braden Peters added 11 points.