By Michael Lindsay
The Gordonsville Tigers defended their home court Saturday evening as they defeated rival Smith County, 68-65.
Saturday’s win finishes Gordonsville’s season sweep of the Owls as they defeated Smith County in Carthage on Dec. 2, 50-44.
Gordonsville improves to 8-2 overall while Smith County falls to 4-9.
Both teams hold second-half leads Saturday before the Tigers pulled away late.
“You look over the years, and this game is usually close,” said Gordonsville head coach Greg Bibb. “We did a good job making good decisions in the fourth quarter, and that was the difference in the game.”
Brayden Holliman led Gordonsville with 18 points, followed by Tristan Wood with 16.
“Tristan did an unbelievable job,” Bibb said. “He shot the ball well and did a pretty good job on the defensive end.”
Gordonsville jumped on the board quickly as they took a 7-0 lead with 5:22 left in the opening period. Smith County settled in and used a 15-4 run to take a 4-point lead (15-11) late in the first period via a Tristin Walker putback.
Smith County held a 20-15 advantage after the first quarter. In the second, both teams traded blows with Gordonsville taking a 32-29 lead into the locker room following a Holliman buzzer-beating jumper from the left baseline.
Smith County retook a 36-34 lead early in the third period on a Walker layup, but it was Gordonsville who held a narrow 44-42 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
Gordonsville held a 56-53 lead with 3:35 left before Wood nailed a crucial three-pointer to put the Tigers up 59-53 with 3:20 remaining.
Gordonsville pushed their lead to 8 points (63-55) with 1:46 remaining, but Smith County stayed within striking distance as they trimmed the lead to 4 (63-59) on a Parker Babcock baseline jumper with 49 seconds left.
A Walker layup with 38 seconds cut the game to one possession (64-61) before Gordonsville responded with a Wood transition basket seven seconds later to put Gordonsville up 66-61. The Tigers held a two-possession lead until Smith County nailed a three-pointer near the buzzer to make the final score 68-65 in favor of Gordonsville.
Despite the rivalry victory and 8-2 start, coach Bibb sees more potential for the Tigers.
“The potential we have to be where we want to be at the end of the year, it could be special,” he said. “But we can’t have games like this. We’d finally get a 5-point lead and do something stupid. We’d take a bad shot or give them a layup. Really good teams take a 5-point lead and make it 10 by executing, defending and rebounding. It’s going to take some time, but the kids want to get there.”
Gordonsville hits the court next Tuesday as they host Watertown. Smith County takes a break until after Christmas when they’ll compete in the Watertown Christmas Classic.
Gordonsville (68): Brayden Holliman 18, Tristan Wood 16, Ryder Grisham 11, Will Dudney 10, Brodie Sykes 8, J Foster 3, Peyton Climer 2
Smith County (65): Taylor Dickerson 23, Matthew Sinclair 13, Tristin Washer 10, Clayton Rigsby 10, Parker Babcock 6, Luke Linder 3
