By Michael Lindsay
The Stone Memorial Panthers got back in the win column Wednesday evening as they defeated Livingston Academy in the District 7-3A tournament consolation round, 73-63.
The Panthers were led by district MVP Matthew Bilbrey, who dropped 30 points in the victory.
“That kid is a playmaker,” said Stone Memorial head coach Neil Capps. “The only way he knows how to play is hard, and that’s who he is.”
Cade Capps also hit double figures for Stone Memorial with 14 points.
Livingston Academy’s Isaac Story had a stellar game of his own as he scored 30 points for the Wildcats.
Stone Memorial opened the game strong as the Panthers held a 13-4 lead to end the first quarter.
The Wildcats flipped the script in the second period as they outscored Stone Memorial 22-10 in the frame to take a 24-23 lead into halftime.
A neck-and-neck third period saw neither team hold more than a one-possession lead until the 1:31 mark as Story nailed a three-pointer to put Livingston up 39-35. The Wildcats held a narrow 41-38 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
Stone Memorial quickly caught the Wildcats 34 seconds into the fourth quarter as a Bilbrey and-one tied the contest at 43 each.
Bilbrey’s and-one was the beginning of a red-hot fourth quarter as he nailed a three-pointer less than a minute later to give the Panthers a 46-43 lead with 6:41 remaining.
“We were able to come back in that second half and pick back up on the defensive end,” coach Capps said. “We had to overcome a lot. Matthew and several people had to sit out with foul trouble.”
Stone Memorial pushed their lead out to 5 points (53-48) via a Bilbrey three-pointer with 4:02 left.
Bilbrey’s three-pointer was the first of four Panther three-pointers over the next 1:30 as Stone Memorial raced out to a 62-50 lead with 2:30 remaining. Bilbrey made 3 three-pointers in the stretch along with one by Cade Capps to make up the 12-2 Panther run.
Livingston Academy would get no closer than 9 points over the final 2:30 as Stone Memorial closed strong to win 73-63.
Up next for both teams is the Region 4-3A tournament as Stone Memorial travels to Page and Livingston Academy travels to Lawrence County. Both games are scheduled for Saturday, time TBD.
