Pope County upsets Thompsonville on buzzer beater

Steve Dunford –Franklin County Hoops and Gridiron

THOMPSONVILLE-  It was déjà vu all over again last night for the Thompsonville Tigers.  For a team that lost on two buzzer beaters last year, and four overtime losses, they were snake bitten again last night.  Pope County pulled the upset as Matt Davis hit a 35 footer past the volleyball line for the win.  The nice maroon clad contingency that made the long trip up from Golconda went home ecstatic.

After one it was Tyson Kessler 13 Pope County five.  The Tigers came out pressing and it was very effective. Two things changed in the second quarter.  Pirate big man, 6’ 8” center Jake Floyd came into the ball game.  I am unsure why he did not get the start.  Second Pope County Coach Jim Simmons puts a little variation in his 2-1-2 zone.  It had a little more variation to it and it looked like a box in one at times keying on Kessler.  Play was very ragged at the half with the Tigers up 22-15 at the intermission.

The third quarter was not one to say the least for the archive vaults.  Jake Floyd took control of the game on both ends of the floor.  He was dominant on the boards, which he ended up with a game high 15.  The Tigers were ice cold (13/41 32%) and did not attack the zone either.  After three the game was tied up at 26.

In the fourth Jared Payne hits three baseline threes and a lot of free throws were shot for both teams in the meantime to get things all knotted up at 40.  The Tigers the offensive rebound off a missed free throw and airs the ball out until the 1:05 mark when Payne goes to the line and hits two free throws and T’ville goes up 42-40.

The Pirates go down and hit a quick three to go up 43-42.  Payne hits two more free throws to put Thompsonville up 44-43.  Pope gets the ball down deep and the post and misses the shot.  Thompsonville gets the rebound and Corbin Fitch is fouled and goes to the line, hits 1-2 to give Thompsonville a two point lead.

Then the shot that took place that will be most likely on Martin’s moments.  You can watch the video on Franklin County-News’ Facebook page

The Tigers will host the NCOE Friday night at 6:00 p.m. in their homecoming game.  The Tigers defeated the Fighting Cardinals 78-75 last Wednesday night at the Christopher Turkey Tournament.  Pope County travels to Crab Orchard Friday night who were 98-83 winners over NCOE last night.

On a side note Carrier Mills coach Keil Peebles was their with his Wildcats last night scouting.  I heard they played extremely well last week at Vienna.

BOX SCORE:

THOMPSONVILLE (45)  Payne 1 4 5-8 19; Kessler 4 1 6-6 17; Darge 1 0 2-4 4; Wilce 0 1 0-0 3; Rabuach 1 0 0-0 2;  Fitch 0 0 0-0 0 Kirkman 0 0-0 0;Dixon 0 0 0-0 0

POPE COUNTY  (46)  Floyd  6 0 2-5 14;  Eddington 1 0 0-0 8 Fasolo 0 2 1-2 7; Grinder 1 1 0-0 5; Walker 2 0 1-2 5; Davis 0 1 0-0 3; Blankenship 1 0 0-0 2 Campbell 0 0 0-0 0

SCORE BY QUARTERS:

THOMPSONVILLE (2-2)      13   9   4   19-  45

POPE COUNTY (3-3)             5  10  11  20- 46