By JON WEBB
GLASGOW — Jeff Hall knows you can’t completely shut down a good player. But you can outscore him.
Despite a game-high 29 points from Grayson County’s Travis Johnson, Glasgow defeated the Cougars 64-60 Wednesday night to capture the championship in the second annual T.J. Samson Hospital Christmas Classic.
“Our defense was much better tonight,” Hall said. “Even though (Johnson) got 29, we feel like we contested each shot. And we had three players and double figures and they had one, which was the difference.”
Glasgow’s Cameron Hall, Kerrington Bradley and Andrew Wade all pitched in double figures.
Grayson had its own trouble stopping Cameron Hall, who led the Scotties with 25 points. Hall averaged 28 points per game throughout the tournament, but struggled early in the first half.
The senior point guard shot three for nine in the first sixteen minutes and turned the ball over three times.
“I walked him off the court and told him not to get his head down,” coach Hall said. “There are two halves of basketball.”
Hall took the advice to heart and shot six for 8 for 16 points in the second half.
It was Kerrington Bradley that set the tone for the Scotties early.
The sophomore scored nine of Glasgow’s 15 in the first to give the Scotties a 15-11 advantage heading into the second quarter.
Grayson responded by scoring the first five points of the second frame to take a 16-15 lead with just more than six minutes to play in the half.
The Cougars eventually increased the lead to 19-17 before Glasgow’s jump shooters took over.
Five points from Cameron Hall and a three-pointer from Dean Glass helped the Scotties retake the lead with 3:35 left in the quarter. A Glass half-court three at the half ended pushed Glasgow ahead by three.
The lead changed hands several times early in the third, but nine quarter points from a resurgent Cameron Hall helped Glasgow grab a five-point advantage heading into the final frame.
The Scotties built a seven-point advantage by the 6:05 mark. Grayson, however, was far from conceding the game.
Johnson scored seven points in the final seven points in the final five-and-a-half minutes to help Grayson get within two with just six seconds to play, but late free throws from Hall and Parker Cash helped seal the win — and tournament championship — for the Scotties.
Apart from Hall, Wade and Kerrington Bradley led Glasgow with 10 points each. Michael Bradley added six points, while Hunter Bowles chipped in four.
Jeff Hall said he wants his kids to take a complete break from basketball over the Christmas holiday to help them regain focus and heal any nagging injuries.
“We’re going to give them two days off, and then have some light practices before the tournament,” he said, referring to Glasgow’s next tournament venture in the Ashland Invitational Tournament. “It won’t be anything heavy, though, because I don’t think our bodies can handle it.”
The win improves Glasgow’s record to 7-1 on the year.
Scotties scoring
Cameron Hall 25
Kerrington Bradley 10
Andrew Wade 10
Michael Bradley 6
Hunter Bowles 4
Dean Glass 3
LaJuan Smith 2
Parker Cash 2
Cody Edwards 2
