Lions fall to York Institute
Tuesday, December 23, 2014 1:20 pm
By JUSTIN BEASLEY, Courier Sports Writer MANCHESTER - Cannon County's five-game win streak came to an end Tuesday at York Institute as the Lions lost hold of their fourth quarter lead, falling 70-67 in overtime. Up eight heading into the fourth period, the Lions surrendered 19 points while only scoring 11 to force overtime. The Lions (8-3, 3-1) had previously won four consecutive games over the Dragons. The Lions shot 61 percent (21 of 34) from the charity stripe. Josh Ruehlen led the Lions with 16 points followed by Jacob Nave with 14. Marshall McReynolds added 13. Cannon County 20 10 19 11 67 Cannon County: Josh Ruehlen 16, Austin Martin 9, Jacob Nave 14, Marshall McReynolds 13, Garret McReynolds 9, Briar Jakes 3, A.J. Daniel 6. CC wins game one MANCHESTER - Despite only scoring two points in the opening frame, the Lions got off to a good start in the Rhea County Classic with a 53-49 win at Soddy Daisy on Thursday night. Of the 14 shots taken in the first quarter, the Lions made zero. In the same span, Cannon County turned the basketball over seven times. The lone points came off the bench at the free-throw line from Austin Brock. The Lions (9-3, 3-1) did their best to make up for it in the second period, scoring 18 points and trimming the lead down to seven at the break. And then Cannon County started playing some defense of its own, forcing the Trojans to just 2-of-15 shooting, resulting in only seven points allowed in the third. Cannon County shot 2-of-23 from 3-point range. The Lions would capitalize on their third quarter momentum in the final period, outscoring the Trojans 20-15, and giving Cannon County the final 53-49 edge. Marshall McReynolds and Jacob Nave led the Lions with 14 points each. Austin Martin finished with 10 points. Cannon County 02 18 11 20 53 Cannon County: Josh Ruehlen 4, Austin Brock 2, Austin Martin 10, Jacob Nave 14, Marshall McReynolds 14, Garret McReynolds 5, A.J. Daniel 4.
The Lions went on to make 9-of-10 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter, giving Cannon County the 61-58 win over Cookeville at Rhea County Friday night. Aside from knocking down only one 3-pointer the entire contest, the Lions shot 66 percent (24 of 36) inside the arc. But Cannon County would outscore the Cavaliers in both the third and fourth quarters to give the Lions a decisive 61-58 victory. Cannon County 15 15 14 17 61 Cannon County: Josh Ruehlen 15, Austin Martin 11, Jacob Nave 16, Marshall McReynolds 2, Garret McReynolds 7, A.J. Daniel 8, Anton Knox 2. Despite loss, Rigsby "proud" with performance MANCHESTER - Head coach Matt Rigsby is well aware that no team in district 8-AA has the same height or athleticism that Hamilton Heights Christian Academy's international players displayed on Saturday. Hamilton Heights star Abdul Ado, a 6'9, 220-pound center ranked No. 23 on the ESPN 60 junior rankings, was held to seven points on the game. "Our guys fought, battled, and competed so much in that game," Rigsby said proudly. In fact, Rigsby was so pleased with his team's competitiveness that he posted the following via his Facebook: "I could not be more honored to say I Coach a group of 15 young men... due to the simple fact they battled as a group the entire way." Trailing 29-18 at the break, Cannon County (10-4, 3-1) would cut the lead to within two points with three minutes left in the third stanza. Cannon County 09 09 21 13 52
Lions finish 3rd Head coach Matt Rigsby worried his team's gas tank was empty. He found out quickly that it wasn't. Cannon County scored 41 points in the opening half, a tournament-high for the Lions, and finished in third place at the Rhea Co. Classic after its 72-52 win over Rhea County in Evensville on Saturday.
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