HERRIN — The Herrin Tigers used a big second half to rally past Massac County 69-59, in a game that saw tempers flare in the final minute leading to five technicals and two ejections.
With Herrin leading by ten with 33 seconds to go, the teams ended up in a full-blown shoving match following a battle for a rebound. Massac County’s Jase Mizell and Herrin’s Landon Bolen were both ejected, meaning they will miss their teams’ next game.
The first 31:27 was a typical River to River-Ohio battle.
The Patriots led by as many as 11 in second quarter and took a 34-25 lead into halftime. The Tigers clawed their way back, cutting it to 46-41 after three, and eventually tying it at 48 on Brandon Anthony’s step-back three-pointer early in the fourth.
The lead changed hands four more times before Luke LeQuatte put the Tigers in front stay with a tip in. Anthony then gave some cushion with a three-point play. The Tigers then came up with critical stops defensively, and Reice Hartline added a couple of clutch baskets to help seal it.
Anthony led all scorers with 19. LeQuatte and Hartline added 18 each and Jake Baumgarte 12 for Herrin.
Mizell led Massac County with 16. Brandon McIntosh added 12 and Zach Travis 11.
The Patriots fall to 12-2, 2-1 in the Ohio. The Tigers improve to 8-6 and are also 2-1 in conference play.
The two teams will meet again February 14th in Metropolis.