Ty Clark’s only basket of the game couldn’t have come at a better time.
With the 51st District Tournament title on the line, and game tied at 51 apiece, Barbourville’s Travis Scott drove the lane with just seconds remaining and found Clark wide-open underneath for the game-winning basket at the buzzer, giving the Tigers a 53-51 win over Pineville in an instant classic.
The Mountain Lions had possession of the ball with under a minute to go with the game tied at 49 apiece, but a steal by Matthew Warren led to his layup to give Barbourville a 51-49 advantage.
Pineville’s Sawyer Thompson tied the game at 51 apiece with two free throws with 14 seconds remaining before Clark’s basket turned out to be the game-winner.
The Tigers (18-10) held a 28-21 lead at halftime before Thompson scored 15 of his team’s 23 points in the third quarter, sending the game tied at 42 apiece entering the fourth quarter.
Scott led Barbourville with 15 points while Matt Warren, and KT Turner each added 13 apiece. Jake Lundy scored six points while Ethan Smith added four points, and Clark scored two points.
Thompson led Pineville (18-10) with a game-high 30 points while Wyatt Caldwell added nine points.
The stage is now set for the 13th Region Tournament with North Laurel (49th District), South Laurel (50th District), Barbourville (51st District), and Harlan County (52nd District) entering as their respective district champions.
Clay County (49th District), Corbin (50th District), Pineville (51st District), and Harlan (52nd District) will enter be entering the 13th Region Tournament as their respective district’s runner-ups.
The 13th Region Boys’ Tournament draw will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Corbin Arena.
