The Cowboys hit the road for a tough away conference game against the Spartans of Mount Tabor. Tabor got up up quickly, but the Cowboys replied just as quick and it was 2-2 at just the 7:30 mark. Southwest took the lead with another bucket, but the Spartans managed to get it level after a couple of possessions and it was 4-4. From there the Spartans began to assert themselves and take control of the frame making it 8-4. Mount Tabor managed to keep the Cowboys at bay, and the lead peaked at 17-10 with 1:57 to go. Southwest managed a three point play, but Tabor once again closed with 4 straight points which closed the frame at 21-13 in favor of the hosts.
The second quarter started with another Spartans bucket which made the margin 23-13. A Cowboy basket was answered by a Spartan 3 pointer and it was 26-15 at the 6:25 mark. Southwest awakened a little bit and put a string of solid possessions on both sides of the ball and it was 26-21 at the 4:50 point. The Cowboys kept chopping wood and slowly trimmed the margin and by the halftime horn it was down to 34-31.
The Cowboys scored immediately to start the half and it was 34-33. They weren’t done, and a 3 pointer later had the Cowboys up 36-34 at the 7:15 mark. Another bucket for the visitors and it was 38-34. The Spartans stopped the streak with a 3 pointer and it was 38-37. On their next possession the Cowboys only managed a made free throw, and the Spartans tied it up at 39 at the 5:15 mark. Another single free throw and a Mount Tabor 6-0 spurt put the hosts up 45-40 midway through the frame. The Cowboys went on a 6-0 run of their own and it was 46-45 at the 2:37 mark. Tabor responded to reclaim the lead and beyond with a quarter closing 10-0 to make it 55-46.
Southwest turned up the pressure and another run cut to deficit to 55-52. The game continued to be a back and forth physical battle, and the Cowboys kept grinding back and it was 57-56 at the 4:57 point. Tabor once again pushed it back out to 61-56. The teams traded baskets. The Cowboys managed to get another stop and get fouled and made a free throw and it was 63-59 with 2:11 to play. A defensive stop and a three pointer later and the Cowboys made it 63-62 with 1:30 on the clock. The pressure mounted and another forced turnover and made layup gave the Cowboys the lead at 64-63 with 1:10 to go. Southwest forced back to back poor possessions, but couldn’t convert. An untimely turnover gave the Spartans the ball back with 41 seconds to play. Another great team stop, but missed free throws allowed the Spartans one more chance. Off the missed free throw, the Spartans tram brought the ball up court under duress with under 15 seconds to go. The pressure forced the ball to come loose, and in the ensuing chaos for the ball a whistle was blown on the Cowboys with just 1.2 to play. The Spartans player made both freebies to give them a 65-64 lead. After a timeout, Southwest got a good look at the game winner but it rattled out and the Cowboys come up just short on the road.
The Spartans were led by Jakob Moore with 22 points. Southwest was led by Milli Huggins with (14 points, 9 Asts, 5 Rebs), Jayden Turner with (14 points, 7 Rebs), and Cooper Cunningham with (10 points, 3 Rebs, 2 Asts).
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Mt. Tabor 21 13 21 10 65
Southwest 13 18 15 18 64
Mt. Tabor (13-3, 5-1)
Ricardo Paige 3
Quest Aldridge 12
Andrew Muse 5
Jakob Moore 22
Isaiah Wilkins 12
Duncan Smit 2
Dillon Bullard 5
Jayland Moore 4
Southwest (12-5,3-3)
Milli Huggins 14 points
JT Butler 4 points, 5 Assists
Jamell Carter 3 points, 3 Rebs, 2 Asts
Christian Martin 9 points, 3 Rebs
Jayden Turner 14 points
Cooper Cunningham 10 points
Joel Pettiford 6 points, 3 Rebs
Naje McClendon 2 points, 2 Rebs
Collin Wilson 2 points, 4 Stls
Courtesy of Southwest Guilford assistant coach Greg Vlazny