After scoring just nine points in the first half Thursday at Hancock County, the Grayson County Cougars came roaring back to take a lead in the fourth quarter, but came up short at the end, 56-54.
Keegan Sharp scored on a lay-up at the 7:39 mark to give the Cougars an early 2-0 lead, but the Hornets reeled off 15 straight points to lead 15-2 with 1:30 left in the period. They led by 10 points, 15-5 at the end of the period.
Hancock opened the second quarter with an 8-0 run to lead by 18 points, 23-5 at the 5:08 mark. They led by 22 points, 31-9 at the half.
Two free throws by Darian Clay with 5:13 left in the third quarter gave the Hornets their largest lead of the game, 24 points at 34-10, but that’s when the Cougars finally came to life.
Grayson County closed out the period by scoring 21 unanswered points to pull to within three of the lead, 34-31 at the start of the fourth quarter.
A lay-in by Hunter Tomes at the 4:58 mark gave the Cougars the lead 44-43, their first since it was 2-0. One-of-two free throws by Chandler McCrady made it 45-43 with 4:38 left.
The two teams then exchanged buckets until an Evan Ferry lay-up tied the score 51-51 with 1:28 left. River Blanton hit a three-pointer with 1:10 left to put Grayson up by three, but Devyn Powers scored on a lay-up and was fouled with 50.2 seconds left. His made free throw tied the game 54-54.
The Cougars turned the ball over on their next possession and Ferry went to the line for two shots with 32.2 seconds remaining. He hit one-of-two to put the Hornets up by one, and the Hornets rebounded the missed free throw.
Ferry went back to the line with 17.3 seconds left and again hit one-of-two to make it 56-54.
The Cougars called a timeout to set up a play, but as time ran out a desperation heave at the buzzer bounced off the rim.
The Hornets put three players into double figures, led by Powers with 16 points. Ferry finished with 13, while Clay added 11.
Sharp led the Cougars with 15 points. Blanton finished with 12 points, and McCrady hit double figures with 10 points. Tomes finished with nine points and he led the team on the glass with six rebounds.
Brayden Childress and Dillon Horn closed out the Cougar scoring with four points each.
By Don Brown, Local Sports
Reach Don at donbrown@k105.com
