Green Devastates Trimble in District Semi-Finals
By: August Knuth
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ATHENS– The Trimble Tomcats (17-5) played the Green Bobcats (15-7) of Scioto County at the Convocation Center for the Division IV District Semifinals Sunday.
Trimble got off to an early lead, and would hold that advantage for the better part of the game. Star player Randy Hixson scored 5 points in the final thirty seconds of the first-quarter, including a coast-to-coast layup after a defensive rebound and a buzzer-beating three-pointer. This pushed the Tomcats to 20-12 lead.
After the second-quarter, the game grew closer but Trimble still looked in control. Hixson and fellow guard Brayden Weber combined for 18 points to make up more than half of the team’s points at the half. The game went to the half with Trimble leading 27-22.
But the Green Bobcats came out on fire midway through the third-quarter.
Green Bobcats Mount a Comeback
With 4:30 remaining in the third, the Bobcats were called for their second charge in a row, and third of the game. The change of possession led to a Trimble bucket, giving them a 12-point lead.
Tayte Carver and Tanner Kimbler of Green High School began pumping life into a team that desperately needed it. Going on a 17-8 run, Kimbler scored 7 and Carver added the other 10 points with some help from a pretty three-ball to move the Bobcats to within three points with 18 seconds remaining in the quarter. The third-quarter ended in Trimble’s favor, 46-43.
Green’s Zach Huffman opened the fourth-quarter with a layup and then a three-point play to give the Bobcats their first lead of the game since the opening tip-off. The score was 50-49 with 6:15 left to play.
From there, Carver took over and his magical performance lasted till the final buzzer.
With 4 minutes left in the game, Carver scored on three consecutive offensive possessions to put the Bobcats up 60-54 with 3:23 to play.
Star Players Take Over
Hixson and Carver began trading blows. After Carver’s free throws put the Bobcats up 6, Hixson ran down the court and knocked down a three-pointer. Carver answered with a layup on the other end, and then Hixson came down the court and blew by his defender for an easy 2 points at the rim.
With 1:30 left in the game, the Bobcats were up 62-59.
The Bobcats rode their lead to the very end of the game. With 5 seconds left, Hixson paced down the court and swished a three-point shot to make it a two-point game, but it came too late. Green was able to throw the ball in and run out the clock.
The Green Bobcats defeated the Trimble Tomcats, 68-66.
Tayte Carver scored a game-high 28 points, while guard Tanner Kimbler added 19.
The outstanding performances of Randy Hixson (22 points) and Brayden Weber (19 points), were just not enough for the Tomcats.
Next Up For The Bobcats and Tomcats
Green High School will move onto the district finals to play Peebles High School of Adams County on March 10th at 2 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
The Trimble Tomcats were eliminated from the tournament, but will play Waterford on Wednesday in a regular season make-up game where the TVC-Hocking Championship is on the line.