A late surge pushed the G.W. Long Rebels past the Red Level Tigers 53-42 Saturday, in the Straughn Christmas tournament.

 

The Rebels got off to a strong start in the first period. The Rebels’ Garrett Sanders had 11 points in the period that included three 3-pointers. At the end of the first, the Rebels led 17-10.

 

The Tigers came out firing, on all cylinders, in the second with a 9-0 run to start off the period. At halftime the game was tied at 26-26.

 

In the third period both teams continued playing well. The Tigers did a great job limiting open looks by the Rebels, but the Rebels seemed to have every shot they fired up fall in. At the end of the third, the Tigers trailed 40-36.

 

In the fourth, the Rebels’ Sanders continued hitting big 3-pointers, and the Rebels’ defense kept the Tigers from scoring in the final two minutes. The Rebels held on for a 53-42 victory.

 

Sanders finished with 21 points for the Rebels, and Kennon Casey added 13 points.

 

Devon Dexter led the Tigers with 11 points, and Chavis Crittenden had 9 points.

 

“We did a better job rebounding, and we should improvement in the second and third periods,” Tigers’ head coach Allen Catrett said. “Now we have to learn to play defense with out feet and not our hands, and we have to make shots count. We are playing hard right now, but we just have to find the right team chemistry. Biggest thing now is that we have to learn how to finish out a game.”