After trailing for most of the game against Bay High on Tuesday night, the Poplarville Hornets basketball team rallied in the fourth quarter to stun the Tigers and earn a 66-64 overtime victory.
Poplarville started the fourth quarter with a 10-point deficit, trailing Bay High 48-38. The Tigers were in control throughout most of the game, extending their lead to 14 in the third quarter.
Poplarville Head Coach Chareck Cable adjusted the Hornets’ strategy in the fourth, instructing his players to trap on defense.
“We took a lot of shortcuts running this defense in the past,” said Cable, “It looks like we are getting tougher.”
The adjustment paid off as the Hornets’ swarming trap defense disrupted the Bay High offense, slowing down the Tigers’ attack and leading to multiple turnovers. Hornets center Craig Barnes added two crucial blocks that swung the momentum in Poplarville’s favor.
On the offensive end of the court, Poplarville sophomore guard Gary Travis had an impressive night, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter.
Travis hit back-to-back three-pointers and scored 10 consecutive points in the game’s final minutes, giving the Hornets their first lead of the game with less than a minute to play. Poplarville led 60-57 and missed two free throws that could have iced the game. Bay High guard Malik Woods drilled a three-pointer with only seconds remaining to tie the game 60-60 and force overtime. The Hornets controlled the 4-minute overtime period, sparking a 6-1 scoring run that ended when Bay High hit a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining. Poplarville safely inbounded the ball and ran the clock out, securing a 66-64 comeback victory.
The Lady Hornets were in action as well, but could not slow down a talented Bay High squad. Poplarville started the game well and finished the first half within striking distance, trailing 34-19. The third quarter is when the game was blown open as the Lady Tigers outscored Poplarville 28-5. As they have done many times this season, the Lady Hornets responded with a spirited and competitive fourth quarter, but the deficit was too much to overcome. The Poplarville girls lost to Bay High 79-34.
The Hornets will be back in action at home this Friday night as they host St. Stanislaus.