By By BRUCE HIXON – Sports Editor
Brewton Middle School Tigers coach Greg White threw everything he could think of in an attempt to stop Ernest Ward's Gary Redmond except the kitchen sink.
Nothing worked, as Redmond pretty much single-handedly
rallied the visiting Eagles to a 39-38 win over the Tigers Thursday.
Redmond fired in 29 points, which included all 11 of his team's fourth quarter points, to help Ernest Ward wipe out an eight-point deficit in the second half.
Brewton (4-3) led virtually the entire game until Redmond drained a three-pointer with 2:29 left to give the Eagles a 39-37 lead.
The Tigers, who got a free throw by Deonte Powell with 1:50 left to pull within 39-38, missed a chance to win the game at the buzzer when Cortez Banks' three-point shot rimmed in and then out.
Derrick Riley led the Tigers with nine points, while Keyanta Lewis and Chris Bell each had eight.
The Brewton Lady Tigers rang in 2006 on a much more positive note, as they downed Ernest Ward 33-16.
Brewton (7-0) controlled the game from start to finish, as it scored the game's first six points, led 22-8 by halftime and by as many as 18 points in the second half.
Nakiya Smith helped Brewton build its lead early in the game, as she had nine of her game high 13 points in the first half. Isha Thompson added nine.
Brewton will close out the home portion of its schedule Tuesday when it hosts Carver and then travel to Ernest Ward for a rematch Thursday.
Girls
Ernest Ward 5 3 5 3 – 16
Brewton 10 12 8 3 – 33
BREWTON- Smith 13, Thompson 9, McCorvey 4, Shedrone 4, Gibbs 3
Ernest Ward 6 10 12 11 – 39
Brewton 14 7 12 5 – 38
BREWTON- Riley 9, Lewis 8, Bell 8, Banks 4, L. Dozier 4, Powell 3, Lane 2