BEVERLY — In most tournaments, the first-round games are filled with scoring runs, big plays, and clutch moments that define the phrase “tournament madness.”
The Pineville Mountain Lions and the Jackson County Generals had all that.
The Lions built a 12-point advantage in the third quarter, only to see the lead evaporate into a three-point deficit in the fourth quarter before righting the ship and escaping with a 60-58 opening-round victory in the 13th Region All-A Classic at Red Bird.
Pineville (10-4) was led in scoring by their guard tandem of Ashton Moser and Sawyer Thompson. Moser scored 23 points and Thompson added 20.
Peyton Singleton’s 15 points led Jackson County (6-7) off the bench.
The Generals controlled the tempo early, slowing down the Lions’ attack and grabbing an 11-10 advantage after the first quarter. Pineville got hot in the second frame and outscored Jackson 18-8 to take a 28-19 advantage to the locker room at halftime.
The Pineville lead grew to 11 at the end of the third stanza at 47-38 before the Generals outscored the Lions 17-13 in the fourth quarter to set the final at 60-58.
The Lions move on to the semifinals and face defending champion Harlan at 6 pm on Monday. The Green Dragons defeated Red Bird 82-26 in the opening round.
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Pineville (60) — Sawyer Thompson 20, Ashton Moser 23, Wyatt Caldwell 6, Logunn Littles 3, Sam Caldwell 7.
Jackson County (58) — Carter Cunagin 13, Keegan Ward 14, Noah Collett 2, Corey Cunagin 12, Ashton Clemmons 3, Peyton Singleton 15.