Two OT wins give RCHS area crown

WEDOWEE – Needing wins in each of its last two area games to clinch the regular-season area title, the RCHS Tigers came through in dramatic fashion.

They survived a double-overtime test from Lineville last Tuesday, then knocked off second-place Talladega County Central on Friday with a 65-55 overtime win that gave the Tigers home-court advantage for the area tournament.

Tremaine Green scored seven of his team-high 22 points in overtime, and the RCHS defense held TCC without a point in the extra frame to secure the Tiger win.

The final score marked a 21-point turnaround from where the Tigers stood a minute and a half into the third quarter.

RCHS trailed 37-26 with 6:32 left in the third and 39-30 with 2:05 remaining before staging a 12-2 run to take a 42-41 lead with 7:03 left in regulation.

The Tigers then took the lead, seemingly for good, on Eugene Hardnett’s 3-pointer from the corner with 6:28 to go.

From that point on the two teams literally swapped points with TCC and star guard Reginald Porter making up ground thanks to missed free throws by RCHS.

The Tigers shot an abysmal 12-for-27 from the line, but got three crucial makes from Rod Houston down the stretch to insure the overtime period.

Porter scored 18 straight points for TCC in the second half before his missed shot was tipped in with two seconds left in regulation, tying the game at 55.

In the overtime period Green took the opening tip from Hardnett for an easy layup to give RCHS all the points they would need to earn the title.

Houston finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Tigers. Hardnett chipped in with 14 points and a game-high 21 rebounds.

Porter led all scorers with 30 points before fouling out late in the overtime period.

RCHS will take on Handley at home on Friday.