HOWELL’S COVE - Cameron Duncan scored 14 of his game high 24 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Talladega County Central Fighting Tigers to a come-from-behind 57-52 win over area rival Winterboro on Thursday. With the win the Fighting Tigers extended their area-winning streak to 28 games.

“As I have always said any win is a good win,” TC Central head coach Cornelius Brown said. “It is definitely big when you beat an area foe then a rival on top of that, so tonight was a pretty good (night) for the Talladega County Central’s basketball program. We are one step closer to doing what we want to do, which is host the area tournament and these are must-win games. We knew that going in, so I want to do our best to complete our assignments, individually and corporately as a team. We want to complete that assignment of winning the game and I think we did that tonight.”

With the Fighting Tigers trailing 38-35 at the start of fourth quarter Duncan drilled a three pointer from the left wing to tie the game at 38-38 with 7:46 left in the quarter. Duncan and Rory Jackson sparked a 7-0 run to put TC Central (6-2,6-0) ahead 48-42 with 2:48 left. Winterboro’s Colby Maddox hit a three pointer from the top of the key to cut the lead to three points 48-45 with 2:34 left. But Duncan calmly scored the last nine points of the night for the Fighting Tigers to help them hold off Winterboro (4-6, 4-2).

“Cameron Duncan played big tonight,” Brown said. “He has been around the system for four years. He was a freshman when I came here, so he has seen the system for four years, heard the terminology for four years. He understands my coaching philosophy and the way I want things done. He did what a senior is supposed to do; he did what a veteran is supposed to do, he did what an experienced player is supposed to do: make plays when it counts. I am very proud of him, but it is testament of his hard work. He is here first, he is here last, and he is still here after practice is over. During his PE period he works on shooting the ball and shooting free throws. He is a very hard worker, so that is what happens; hard work pays off.

Through the first three quarters the Bulldogs hurt the Fighting Tigers with second chance points and easy layups in transition. In the third quarter Winterboro scored 16 of their 18 points off of turnovers and put backs.

“I told the guys the third quarter is where you make a statement,” Winterboro head coach Anthony Jacks said. “Let’s come out and drive to the hole, let’s get it inside and let’s play great defense. I try to tell the guys that we are a defensive team first and they are starting to embrace that.

“That’s where it starts for us on the defensive end. We got some turnovers and we were able to put it back in.”

Josh Taylor and Bacardy McLendon led Winterboro with 15 points apiece.

The Fighting Tigers travel to Tuscaloosa to play No. 1 Holy Spirit in the ACA Christmas Tournament beginning Monday.

Winterboro travels to ASD today. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

Girls

The Talladega County Central Lady Tigers defeated area foe Winterboro 45-33 on Thursday.

Quingelica Strown scored 14 points to lead the Lady Tigers. Jasmine Richardson scored a game-high 17 points for the Lady Bulldogs while Tanesha Merritt chipped in with 11 points.