HUNTSVILLE | Scott High's four-game winning streak was snapped in a disappointing way Tuesday (Jan. 17), as the Highlanders lost at home to a short-handed Gibbs team, 66-52.
The Eagles, who the Highlanders started their win streak against in Christmas tournament play at Anderson County, jumped out to a 17-1 lead before Scott ever made a field goal, and led by as much as 20 points.
The game was seldom close. Scott High did play well in spurts, at one point closing an 18-point lead to just five points late in the first half.
But after missing a pair of free throws, the Highlanders turned the ball over on back-to-back possessions, and Gibbs pushed the lead back to double-digits at halftime.
The second half saw the Eagles build the advantage to as much as 20 points.
In frustration, Scott High coach Rusty Yaden inserted three freshmen in the fourth quarter, and again the Highlanders rallied, cutting the lead to 10. But Gibbs continued to find answers, consistently holding the Highlanders at bay.
The two teams entered the game with identical records, but Yaden said afterward that the frustrating part of the loss wasn't the quality of the opponent, but the fashion in which it happened. Yaden was particularly disappointed with his team's defensive effort, and said he felt his players reverted to some bad habits that were prevalent early in the season, before the team started playing much better in late December.
Grey Todd led Scott High with 16 points. Brady Strunk scored 11 points and was named the First National Bank Player of the Game. Toby Garrett pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds. Scott Jeffers led the team with four assists, while Skye Babb had a team-high three steals.
The Highlanders shot just 35% from the field and were only 11 of 20 from the free throw line. Todd was five of six from the line, and Jeffers was two of two from the stripe, but Garrett was an uncharacteristic one of five from the line.
Four Gibbs players scored in double figures.
The Highlanders will have little time to lick their wounds. The second half of the district season starts Friday, and it begins with a visit from Anderson County and the Highlanders' former coach, Jordan Jeffers. Scott High won the first meeting, in Clinton, but Anderson County has since caught fire and has recent wins against both Halls and Clinton.
SCOTT (52): Todd 16, Strunk 11, Garrett 7, Woodward 6, Babb 5, Jeffers 4, Washam 3.
GIBBS (66): Graves 14, Shown 13, Turner 13, Palmer 11, Walker 8, Melton 5, Mount 2.
