The Trigg County Wildcats rallied from a first half double digit deficit and three times got big shots in the final seconds to outlast Cheatham County 69-67 in double overtime in the Stewart County Christmas Classic. Trigg County got game tying shots in regulation and the first overtime from DeOvion Day, and then Day completed a three-point play in the second overtime to get the win for the Wildcats.
The game started off a bit rough for the Wildcats, who appeared not to like the early day start. The Cubs jumped out to an 8-2 lead early in the first quarter. Trigg scored the next seven points of the contest to take a 9-8 lead. Cheatham County finished the quarter on a 6-0 run to lead 14-9.
After a Trigg County basket cut the lead to 14-11, Cheatham County hit the Wildcats with a 7-0 run to get the lead to double digits at 21-11. The lead held up through most of the second quarter, before Trigg County scored the final five points of the half to trim the lead to 30-25 at the break.
Coming out of the locker room, Trigg County cranked up the defensive pressure on the Cubs, forcing several mistakes from the Cheatham County guards. Trigg County scored the first seven points of the second half to take a 32-30 lead. Most of the run was keyed by the play of Day and Kendric Adams. Trigg County would lead by as many as four in the quarter, before the Cubs rallied to tie the game at 43-43 going into the final quarter.
During the 4th quarter, Cheatham County was able to take advantage of some Trigg County miscues to take a 54-49 lead with 1:45 to go. However, the Wildcats clamped down the defense and tied the game at 54-54 with 1:00 to go. Trigg County had the ball, appearing like they were going to go for the last shot, when Cheatham County came up with a steal and a layup to take 56-54 lead with 17.7 seconds left in regulaton.
Step up DeOvion Day, round one. Trigg County was able to get the ball to Day down on the block, and the senior big man put in the game tying shot just ahead of the buzzer to force overtime.
In the first overtime, neither team got much going. Cheatham County was able to take a two point lead with 16.5 seconds to go. Step up DeOvion Day, round two. Again, the Wildcats got the ball to the big man down inside in the final seconds, and again Day scored to force a second overtime.
In the second overtime, Cheatham County appeared to take control, with a four point lead and just 30.3 seconds left. However, Adams knocked down a pair of free throws with 23.4 seconds to go to cut the lead to 67-65. After two missed free throws by the Cubs, the Wildcats got the ball inside to Day again, and this time Day not only made the shot, but drew a foul with 7.4 seconds to go. Day made the free throw to put the Wildcats up 68-67. KiRome Bingham added a free throw to set the final margin.
Trigg County was led on the afternoon by Kendric Adams with 31 points. In addition to his three huge baskets, DeOvion Day added 23. Devron Triplet was the other Wildcat in double figures with 12. Jonathan Mayberry paced Cheatham County with 15.
With the win, Trigg County improved to 6-4 on the season.
