Third time’s a charm.

That saying proved correct for the Calhoun varsity boys basketball team on Friday, when the Tigers from Letohatchee took down the Central Lions from Hayneville in the 2A Area 6 Tournament Championship playoffs in Luverne 73-56.

Also proven correct and agreed upon by Central head basketball coach Toriano Baker and Calhoun head basketball coach Jim Hunter, was the saying, “It’s hard to beat the same team three times.”

Central had beaten Calhoun twice this season. But in the chase for an area tournament title, Calhoun turned the tables on the Lions and won the third meeting, which was the one that counts in the single elimination tournament.

Calhoun jumped out to an eight point lead early Friday and never really looked back.

The Tigers led 16-8 at the end of the first period, 37-26 at the half, 49-42 at the end of the third period, and rained three-point shots blowing this contest open for a 73-56 victory in the fourth period.

“Most of the time it’s hard to beat a team three times,” Hunter said, “even though it happens a lot of times. But we just played one of our better games, the shots were falling, and we played pretty good defense.”

He said both Jakeem Davison and Jamarcus Davison stepped up for the Tigers.

Jamarcus Davison led Calhoun with 26 points, Jakeem Davison scored 14 and Jamine Jordan scored 12.
Central was led by Marcus Mitchell with 23 points.

Jamarcus Davison said of the victory, “We just came together as a team and played with teamwork, simple fact.”
Baker said of his Lions, “You know it’s hard to beat a team three times. I was very disappointed in my guys toward the end of the season… lack of showing up for practice, lack of preparation… it’s kind of hard to prepare if you’re not there.”

He said his team had been doing a good job all season “but just drifted off toward the end.”

Baker said his teams are always competitive, but they did not have a competitive edge on Friday. He called Calhoun a scrappy, good shooting team who “shot the ball well tonight.”

Calhoun moves on to play the winner of Luverne/Highland Home in the Class 2A Area 6 tournament final Monday at Luverne at 6:30 p.m.