A strong fourth period lifted the Red Level Tigers over the McKenzie Tigers 50-35 Thursday night in Red Level.

 

Both teams started off the game off strong, and the score was tied 11-11 at the end of the first period. Devon Dexter had 5 points in the first for Red Level, including a 3-pointer from the corner that tied the game up at 11. Jeffery Perdue had 4 points in the period, and was 2-for-2 from the line.

 

Red Level struggled from the field in the second period, but managed to go 5-for-8 from the free throw line as a team. Dexter buried another 3-pointer for Red Level, but the host Tigers trailed 20-19 going in to halftime. Ontaryo Nearor was 3-for-5 from the line, and Chavis Crittenden went 2-for-3 from the line in the period.

 

The shooting woes continued into the third period for Red Level, but they were able to take a 26-24 lead thanks to solid defensive play. Dameyune Scott got 3 points in the third to lead the host Tigers. Dexter and Nearor each added 2 points.

 

Red Level kicked it into another gear in the fourth period, and outscored McKenzie 24-11 in the final from for a 50-35 win. Perdue had 10 points in the final period, including going 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Dexter added 9 points with a 3-pointer, and a 2-for-2 trip to the free throw line.

 

Dexter led the Tigers with 19 points, and Perdue finished the night with 14 points.

 

“For the first three periods it was like we were just going through the motions,” Red Level head coach Allen Catrett said. “We did good things in the first half, but the difference in the first three periods, and the fourth period was that we started making shots. The defense played with a lot of energy. We have been saying that our goal is to hold them under 45 points, and we did that tonight. Now we just have to play all four periods like we did the fourth.”

 

The win moves Red Level to 5-16 overall, and 2-2 in area play.