Not only did the Greenback Cherokees snap a three-game losing streak Monday night, they also saw star forward Mykal Titlow score his 1,000th point in the team's 67-50 home win over Berean Christian.
"I'm proud of his accomplishment," Greenback Head Coach Patrick Bethel said of Titlow's 1,000 points. The senior has started the past three seasons for Greenback and was the only player returning with significant starting experience this year. Titlow finished Monday night's game with 31 points, giving him a total of 1,006 in his Cherokee career.
Titlow's accomplishment was coupled with a 17-point win for his team, their fifth victory of the year. "Any win at this point in the district is good," Bethel said after the game. The 'Kees struggled some early, showing the traits that have plagued the young team all season. The Cherokees grabbed the early 10-4 lead, but Berean fought back to trail 13-9 after one. The Eagles scored four straight to tie the game early in the second and then, after a Titlow jumper, scored four more straight to lead by two.
The teams traded shots from there until Titlow and Nick Sabo combined for seven straight points to give Greenback a 25-21 lead. Berean fought back, however, to tie the game at 27 at the break. The Eagles grabbed the early advantage in the third with four of the first six points, but then the Cherokees turned it on.
Over the next three minutes, the 'Kees rattled off 13 of the next 15 points - behind shots by Titlow, Tyler Bryant, Jordan Collis and Hunter Burchfield - to lead 42-34. The Eagles fought back to within four, but Jered Collis, Sabo and Austin Bryant combined for four straight points to give Greenback a 46-38 lead after three.
After a Berean bucket to start the fourth, the 'Kees went on another run, scoring 10 of the next 12 points to lead by 14 with 5:03 left in the game. During that run, Titlow scored all 10 points to achieve the 1,000 point mark. With 6:10 to go in the game, Burchfield stole the ball and delivered it to Titlow. The senior layed in the basketball for his 25th point of the game and his 1,000th of his career. The teams mostly traded shots from there and the 'Kees earned their 17-point win.
"The second half wasn't bad, but in the first half we struggled with where we needed to be," Bethel said.
The 'Kees will look to build off this momentum and get a winning streak going Friday night when they host Harriman. They'll also host homecoming against Cosby Saturday at 7 p.m. Game time Friday night is set for 8 p.m.
NEWS-HERALD
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