Basketball

Cullman County’s last two undefeated basketball teams are perfect no longer.

Holly Pond’s boys fell 80-76 to Meigs (Ohio) Wednesday at the King of the Smokies Tournament in Pigeon Forge, while Cold Springs’ girls were clipped 62-50 by Priceville on opening day of the West Morgan Christmas Tournament.

The Class 3A No. 2 Broncos (16-1) trailed 19-11 after one, were tied 42-42 at halftime and led 65-58 entering the fourth quarter before Meigs took over on a 14-0 run to end the game. Drew Jones led the Green and White with 28 points, Griffin Morris tossed in 18, and Matt Cahoon and Bailey Smith were good for 11 and nine, respectively.

“Meigs made plays down the stretch and we didn’t,” Holly Pond coach Mitch Morris said.

The problem for the 2A No. 4 Lady Eagles was not making free throws. Cold Springs (13-1), which had three players foul out, went a glaring 7 of 20 from the gimme distance compared to Priceville’s 25-of-30 clip.

Camryn Crider was 5 of 8 from 3-point range and paced the Blue and Gold with 23 points. Emme Willoughby added 13 points, and Elizabeth Hill and Prisca McAnnally both had six.

“It’s OK. It’s a Christmas tournament,” Cold Springs coach Tammy West said. “Hopefully we can get back on track. Nobody wanted to lose, but you’ve got to learn from it and learn what you’ve got to work on for the rest of the season.”

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Varsity Girls

% Cullman 75, Albertville 65: The Lady Bearcats were on pace to score just 20 points after the first quarter of Wednesday’s Queen of the Smokies Tournament tilt.

The Aggies, over the same stretch, had already hit the mark.

But then Cullman started clicking offensively and never slowed, pulling even by the fourth quarter and dominating the final frame 21-11 for the comeback victory. Sierra Easterwood (10 points), Anna Evans (seven) and Anna Katherine Eastman (four) combined for all of the Black and Gold’s points over the last eight minutes.

Easterwood (19 points), Evans (15) and Eastman (11) were also the Bearcats’ overall leading scorers. Evans’ entire total came in the second half. Victoria Barker and Anna Grace Murphy aided the win, which improved Cullman to 8-8, with eight points apiece.

% Hanceville 51, Cleveland 35: The Lady Bulldogs outscored the Panthers 19-2 in the second quarter and never looked back to stay alive at the Hayden Christmas Tournament.

Kierra Merriweather kicked in 17 points for the Purple and Gold. Cassidy Campbell followed with 13 points, and Karmen Johnson had eight.

% Holly Pond 46, Talladega County 26: The Lady Broncos easily staved off elimination at the Decatur Orthopaedic Clinic Classic with a one-sided win.

Haley Higginboth led the charge for Holly Pond (6-12) with 10 points. Elizabeth Miller netted eight, Kolby Holcombe secured seven and Presley Marks had six.

% Addison 43, Lynn 26: The Lady Bulldogs made quick work of their area and county rival in a make-up game from earlier in the season.

Reagan Smothers and Macey Butler helped Addison improve to 10-1 overall and 3-0 in area play with 12 and 11 points. Allie Townsend tacked on seven points and 11 rebounds, and Destiny Walker whipped up six points. Savannah Manley snagged nine rebounds, and Kendra Tyree pulled down seven. Smothers also swiped five steals.

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Varsity Boys

% Cullman 58, Rockmart (Ga.) 48: Drew Morton’s big second half lifted the ‘Cats to a consolation victory at the King of the Smokies Tournament.

Morton poured on all 15 of his points from beyond the arc and over the last 16 minutes, allowing Cullman (7-11) to pull away after clinging to a 25-24 halftime cushion.

Reese Harbison, Trey Tucker, Dylan Finch and Jake McAfee all escaped with six points. Six other Bearcats sported at least two points.

% Cordova 63, Fairview 47: The Aggies kept it close with the 4A No. 1 Blue Devils for three quarters but were outscored 21-10 in the fourth in a winner’s bracket contest at the Albertville Christmas Classic.

Sam Elrod led Fairview (8-9) with 11 points. Luke Yarbrough and Tyler Ball were next in line with nine points apiece, and Truman Boyd was close behind with eight.

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JV Girls

% Cold Springs 41, West Morgan 21: Hannah Stricklin posted 17 points, and Toni West chipped in eight as the Lady Eagles nearly doubled up the hosts.