By Justin Fedich | The Selma Times-Journal

The Tipton boys’ basketball team led throughout the game, but as the game neared its end, Martin Middle came storming back to try to earn a comeback victory.

The Tipton Blue Devils (2-1) escaped a late surge from the Martin Bulldogs (3-2) to win 36-31 at home Tuesday. Tipton’s Antonio Davis and James Williams each finished with 14 points, while Martin’s Octavious Palmer led his team with 13 points.

“I’m proud, but I’m not completely happy because we should’ve put them away,” said Tipton head coach Courvoisen Fails. “A lot of mistakes have been made that we shouldn’t have made.”

After a back and forth start to the first quarter, the Blue Devils got out to a comfortable lead. Williams scored nine first-half points, and Tipton took a 31-24 lead into halftime.

Martin came fighting back, lowering the nine-point deficit to six after three quarters.

Palmer connected on a two-pointer to pull Martin within four points at 31-27 with three minutes left in the game. Davis made two free throws to give the Blue Devils a 33-27 lead, and then Tony Sullivan effectively finished off the game for the Blue Devils when he made a two-point shot while getting fouled with under a minute left to go.

Martin assistant coach Jeremy White said he is proud of how his team nearly came back in the end, but he wished his players had come out with that same energy at the beginning.

“They played hard, but if they would have played that way to start with and not get so far behind,” White said.

“They’ve got to come out of the gate like that. You can’t come out, and then wait to play in the fourth quarter.”

Defeating the Bulldogs was a step in the right direction for a Blue Devils’ team that was coming off a loss against R.B. Hudson. Fails said there are many lessons the team can take away from the game.

“Continue to play hard,” Fails said. “Take care of the ball, play smart, consistency throughout the game. Efficiency and consistency, most importantly.”

 

Tipton girls fight off late Martin comeback 

Tipton’s girls’ basketball team led 26-16 at the half, which in most games is a safe lead. Martin head coach Robin Condra made sure her girls team wasn’t going to be done playing until the final air horn sounded.

“That’s all I ask is never give up and they don’t,” Condra said. “That’s one thing about them. They don’t give up. And they hustle after it.”

In a similar narrative to the boys’ basketball game, the Tipton Blue Devils (2-1) held off the Martin Bulldogs (3-2) 28-26 Tuesday at Tipton in an effort that took all four quarters to finish. Tipton’s Kimeesha Rodgers led all scorers with 12 points, and Martin’s leading scorer was Sharilyn Briggins, who had 10 points.

Martin was down early, but came back, and had a chance to win it at the end. Turnovers and late game miscues nearly derailed a Tipton team that had been so dominant in the first half.

“My girls came out determined to beat them, but they took it for granted and they played a good game,” said Tipton head coach Leonard Jones

The gym was roaring as Martin fought its way back into the game. With one second left, Martin had a chance to tie the game or win it, but the Bulldogs weren’t able to get a shot off in time.

“We’ve got a young team, but they never quit,” Condra said. “We should be 5-0. We’ve lost two games we shouldn’t have lost. Tonight we beat ourselves.”