Nathan Hutchinson
BEREA — Model trailed by 15 points late in the second quarter, but stormed back to stun Estill County Friday at the Berea Invitational Tournament.
Dennis Smith scored a team-high 27 points and Matt Witt added 15 points as the Patriots picked up a 67-60 win. Wayne Morris added 10 points off the bench and Anders Kipp finished with eight points.
With the win, Model (4-2) clinched the top seed from its pool and earned a shot to play either Madison Southern or Elliott County in today’s championship game, which is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Berea Community.
In other action from the second day of the tournament, Madison Southern rolled past Lynn Camp, 91-56, and Berea Community defeated Monticello, 68-43.
Estill County hit five three-pointers in the first half and had a 31-16 lead just before halftime. The Patriots got back to within 11 points at the break, then started the second half on an 8-2 run.
Model used a 9-0 spurt, highlighted by a pair of baskets by Smith, to re-take the lead. Smith connected on a runner just before the buzzer to give the Patriots a 42-41 lead heading into the final quarter.
Behind the play of Smith and Morris, Model continued to pull away in the fourth. The Patriots hit 14-of-22 free throws in the final eight minutes to wrap up the win.
Model will take on Monticello at noon today in the final round-robin game of the tournament.
Southern 91, Lynn Camp 56
The Eagles (4-2) jumped out to a big early lead and rolled past Lynn Camp Friday at the Berea Invitational Tournament.
Joey Wallace had 16 points and Carrington Roberts added 15 points, including 11 in the first quarter, in the comfortable 91-56 win.
Southern hit 10 three-pointers, including three by Aaron Ponder, and had a double-digit lead after the first quarter and a 47-26 advantage at halftime.
Phiilip Acres and A.J. Jeck each had 12 points, Rico Brown had seven points, Jimmy Freel had six points and seven rebounds and Trent Broughton added five points.
Southern will take on Elliott County at 1:30 p.m. today in the final round-robin game of the tournament. The winner will get the pool’s top seed and will play Model for the title.
Berea Community 68, Monticello 43
The Pirates (3-2) used a second-half surge to blow open a close game with Monticello Thursday at the Berea Invitational Tournament.
Nate Arvin had a team-best 17 points and Ben Miller added 15 points, including three three-pointers, in the 68-43 win. Chase Riddle had 10 points, Nathan Vaughn had nine points and Jon Shearer added six points.
Berea led just 31-25 at the half, but out-scored Monticello 23-9 in the third quarter. Arvin had nine points in the third as the Pirates started to pull away.
Berea had just one field goal in the fourth quarter, but connected on 12-of-14 free-throw attempts.
The Pirates will take on Estill County at 1:30 p.m. in the final round-robin game of the tournament. The winner will advance to the third-place game, while the loser will play in the fifth-place game.
