TALLADEGA – After trailing nearly the entire game, the Talladega County Central Tigers overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Winterboro Bulldogs, 44-42 in the opening game of the Talladega Christmas Round Robin at Chuck Miller Arena on Saturday.

Cameron Duncan and Rory Jackson scored all 19 of TC Central’s points in the fourth quarter to lead the Tigers to victory over the Bulldogs. Duncan put up 10 points in the stanza and finished with 18 points for the game. Jackson added the other nine points in the fourth and was the only other player in double figures for TC Central with 12 for the game.

Duncan started the scoring for the Tigers in the final period, hitting two shots before Jackson netted a three-pointer to pull the Tigers within seven points of Winterboro with 5:27 to go in the game. Less than a minute later, Duncan hit a three-pointer of his own and the Tigers trailed by four. The two continued to trade shots while Winterboro couldn’t get a shot to fall in the period. The Bulldogs netted just seven points in the final stanza.

TC Central took the lead with 2:17 to go in the game on a shot by Jackson. The Tigers extended the lead to three points before Winterboro’s Colby Maddox drained two free throws to pull the Bulldogs to within one, 43-42 with 33.7 seconds remaining. Duncan hit one of his free throws with just over 4 seconds remaining in the game to give the Tigers a two-point lead. Winterboro had the ball with time to score, but a cross-court pass sailed wide of the intended recipient and ended Winterboro’s hope of a game-winning shot.

The Tigers started the game a little sluggish and Winterboro was able to capitalize on a few of their turnovers in the first quarter. The Bulldogs ended the first quarter with a 12-10. The scoring troubles continued for both teams in the second period as the lead swapped hands, but the Bulldogs held a three-point advantage at intermission.

Winterboro was able to pull away in the third quarter with strong shooting from Bacardy McClendon. The junior put up six points in the stanza. TC Central had just eight points in the stanza. The Bulldogs led by 10 points entering the fourth.

McClendon and Maddox led Winterboro in scoring with 11 points each. Josh Taylor chipped in with six points.

Both teams will be back in action on Monday as the Tigers take on the Lincoln Golden Bears at 6 p.m. and the Bulldogs face the host team at 7:30 p.m.