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The Andalusia Bulldogs kept the Richard Robertson Christmas Tournament at home by winning a tight contest against the Georgiana Panthers, 50-47, in the championship game Saturday night.

The Bulldogs led by as many as 15 points in the game, but the Panthers came roaring back in the final period to tie the game at 47 with just over a minute to go. A free throw by Cadariyus Love with 3.3 seconds remaining ended up being the difference.

Following the championship game, members of the All-Tournament Team were announced with Andalusia placing three players: Calvin Daniels, Cadariyus Love, and Tournament MVP Xavier Hourel. Other players earning All-Tournament honors were Georgiana’s Nasin Cheatham and Jaden Stallworth; Hillcrest-Evergreen’s J.T. Barlow and Jontavious Lett; D.J. Hines of Opp; and Monroe County’s Al’Montae Preyear.

In the tournament finale, Andalusia’s shooters came out hot from three-point range as the Bulldogs built up a 21-10 lead by the end of the first period. Four Bulldogs hit a total of five threes in that first period, including Nashaun Wilson who hit two. Xavier Hourel, Cadariyus Love, and Emmanuel Marshal hit one each from behind the arc.

Georgiana cut the lead down to seven in the second, but the Bulldogs outscored them 5-2 in the final minutes of the half to maintain the 11-point edge, 32-21.

Hudson Kelley’s three-pointer, along with four points from Love, kept Andalusia in front, but the Panthers outscored the Bulldogs in the third 11-10 to make it a 10-point game going into the final period, 42-32.

Georgiana came back strong in the final period, outpacing the Bulldogs 17-8 down the stretch. The last minute belonged to the Bulldogs though. With 1:10 remaining, Nasin Cheatham went to the free throw line and tied the game at 47. Calvin Daniels put the Bulldogs back on top at 55 seconds remaining with a basket and Love hit a free throw with 3 seconds remaining to secure the 50-47 tournament championship victory.

Hourel led the Bulldogs with 16 points in the championship game. Love finished with 12 and Wilson added 10.

Cheatham led the Panthers with 17 points while Jaden Stallworth was good for 9.

With the win, the Bulldogs are 4-2 on the season. The team traveled to New Brockton Monday night and return home to host McKenzie Thursday, Dec. 19, 6 p.m.

 

Hillcrest Evergreen 65, Opp 28

In the battle for third and fourth place in the tournament, Hillcrest-Evergreen pulled away from Opp,  65-28.

The game stayed close early with Opp down by only two, 13-11, at the end of the first period. But the second period saw Hillcrest begin to pull away as they held the Bobcats to only seven second-period points to take a 29-18 lead into the half.

Opp hit only one basket in the third as the Jaguars build up a dominating lead, 41-20 going into the final period. A couple of three-pointers and two other baskets by Jasiah Grace lifted Hillcrest to its biggest offensive period with a team total 24 points, to secure the third-place spot in the tournament.

Nine different players scored points for the Jaguars. Leading the charge was J.T. Barlow with 22 and Grace with 10. Dorian Watson added eight.

Damirian Thompson led Opp with six points. D.J. Hines, Conner Powers, and Jeshurun Crittenden each finished with five points.

Opp, 6-4 on the season, was put into the losing bracket after falling to Andalusia on Friday, 50-46.

After traveling to Florala on Monday night, the Bobcats will travel to Zion Chapel on Friday, Dec. 20.