After tight opening quarters, Calera girls and Colbert boys broke things open while cruising to Bryan County Conference victories last week.
The Calera girls were easy 6832 victors while the Leopards returned the favor with a 52-33 verdict in the nightcap.
Girls
Senior Aericca Olsen pumped in eight first quarter points to keep Colbert within striking distance trailing just 19-15 but the second and third frames were completely different stories.
Calera erupted for a 21-5 flurry in period two fueled by freshman Taibree Melton’s eight points for a commanding halftime advantage. Emma Daniel exploded for 11 with another seven from Melton in the third as the Lady Bulldogs continued to pull away with a 22-7 scoring edge.
Melton finished with a gamehigh 21 points with Daniel adding another 19 for Calera. Taylynn Conder pitched in 14 points, Carlaysia Brown had six, Tatum Buck scored four with Amariah McLaughlin and Savannah Mallard notching two each.
Olsen tallied 19 in leading the charge for Colbert, which also got seven points from Kennedy Sullenger, four by Kaylee Andrews and two from Erica Mitchell.
Boys
The Leopards avenged a loss to Calera in the semifinals of the Bryan County Tournament in a big way, taking control following a tight opening stanza.
Colbert snagged a 15-11 edge sparked by Kyle Peebles’ seven first quarter points in a nip and tuck first frame. Calera however found scoring tough to come by in the middle two stanzas, which allowed the Leopards to extend the lead.
A 12-5 scoring edge in the second frame was followed by a 15-7 flurry in the third to push the margin to 42-23 and Colbert coasted home from there.
Peebles poured in 17 points and Zade Simes notched 13 as the Leopard offensive catalysts. Adrian Clement and Eric Hockett narrowly missed the double figure mark with nine points apiece. Fernando Arellano and Ethan Floyd each tossed in two points.
Nobody tallied double digits for Calera, which was led by Zaiden Craige’s eight points. Gavin Chaffin ended with seven, Nathan Ford had six, Talon Rose and Eason Humphers scored four apiece while Logan Bumgarner and Lex Carlton both hit for two points.
