HANCEVILLE — Vinemont’s junior varsity boys outlasted Holly Pond in a back-and-forth outing on Saturday, securing a 54-51 victory in the first round of the Cullman County Basketball Tournament.

The No. 5 Eagles took control early, seizing a 29-10 lead midway through the second period.

The fourth-seeded Broncos, though, responded with an impressive 32-5 spurt to storm ahead 42-34 in the fourth quarter.

Both teams made play after play down the stretch before a Fox Westall trey gifted Holly Pond a 51-50 lead.

Vinemont’s Jeremy Harbison, however, put the Eagles in front 52-51 with 15.2 seconds left after sinking two free throws. The Red and White then forced a turnover and increased its lead to 54-51 following a pair from the charity stripe by Kaden Graham with 4.9 seconds left.

The Broncos had a chance to tie, but a last-second heave was off the mark.

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Top Scorers

Vinemont: Colton Gillis (16), Kaden Graham (14), Hayden Robinson (10), Cheston Wilhite (7)

Holly Pond: Boston Gibbs (15), Cade Allbright (13), Fox Westall (11), Jayden Holloway (9)

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Up Next

Vinemont will play No. 1 Fairview on Monday at 5 p.m.