Jemison’s varsity boys team won the Chilton County Basketball Tournament championship.

By Brandon Sumrall | Special to the Advertiser

The 2014 Chilton County Basketball Tournament reached its peak with the championship round on Saturday night.

The host Jemison Panthers kept the hometown crowd excited all night by bringing claiming the junior varsity and varsity boys titles, while rival Chilton County captured the girls championship.

Despite a fourth quarter run by Chilton County, the Panthers managed to hold on and knock off the Tigers 45-34 in the JV game.

A 10-point performance by Wesley McGehee in the first period and stingy defense by the Panthers gave the home team a 16-4 first period lead.

The Tigers had much better success finding the basket in the second period but still trailed the Panthers 32-17 at halftime.

Turnovers, fouls and free throw shooting was the theme of the third period, but still the Panthers held a 38-19 lead heading into the final period.

Keshawn Williams sparked a Tiger comeback in the fourth period, hitting five-of-seven shots from the field, but it was too little too late as the Panthers held on for win.

“We have a really good group of kids,” Panthers coach Andrew Hardiman said. “We weren’t really expected to be that good to begin the season, but hard work and motivation has really brought us together. We are really excited about the second half of the season.”

McGehee led the Panthers with 15 points, two rebounds, three steals and a block.

Williams had 13 points, two rebounds and a steal for the Tigers.

Jemison’s junior varsity boys are county champions.

Defense helps Tigers to girls title

After upsetting the top-seeded Panthers on Thursday, Chilton County’s girls kept the momentum going and despite a slow start, managed to come from behind to win 50-43 over the Thorsby Rebels.

Ten points by Lillyanna Barnett helped the Rebels to a 16-8 first-period lead.

A second period Tiger run led by Keona DeJarnett and Kadesha Lee, who put up seven each in the period, would tie the game at 25-all at the half.

The Tigers’ defensive pressure got to the Rebels in the third period as turnovers helped the Tigers build a 35-31 lead heading to the final period.

A Marissa Jones basket with 6:14 to play knotted the game at 36-all, but Lee answered right back with a basket for the Tigers, starting a 12-6 Chilton run to end the game and giving the Tigers the win and the tournament championship.

“Defense was definitely the key for us tonight,” CCHS coach Sharree Tuck said. “It has been a while since we have won the tournament. Last year, we lost by one after missing a lot of free throws. Tonight we did a much better job with our free throw shooting. It feels really good to pick up this win.”

DeJarnett led the Tigers with 14 points, six rebounds, six steals and three blocks. Gabriel Kelly pitched in 14 points, two rebounds, five steals and two blocks for the Tigers.

Barnett led the Rebels with 24 points, seven rebounds, seven steals and three blocks.

Chilton County’s girls are county champions.

Panthers pull away late for boys championship

After a back-and-forth first half, Jemison pulled away late in the game en route to a 71-54 win over CCHS and the tournament championship.

Six points by Jamarcus Williams and four by Cade Hatch gave the Tigers a slim 15-13 first-period lead.

The Tigers’ Davre Williams’ six second-period points was matched by the Panthers’ ShunDerrius Strong to keep the game close at the half, 29-26 in favor of the Tigers.

A Julian Jones basket with 6:43 to play in the third gave the Panthers the lead and the momentum as they went on to outscore the Tigers 19-12 in the period, and the hosts went into the final period with a 45-41 lead.

With a one-point lead and 6:12 left to play, a Randy Satterfield basket began a 23-12 run as the Panthers went on to earn the title of county champion.

“Our big guys down low, Shun and Cody (Thompson) really took over the game,” Panthers coach Stacy McGehee said. “It is a big win for us and the nine seniors on the team. For them to be able to go out as county champions is a big accomplishment.”

Satterfield led the way for the Panthers with 20 points, 11 rebounds, four steals and a block. B.J. Kornegay added 20 points, four rebounds and a steal for Jemison.

Williams had 22 points, two rebounds and two steals.