All Tournament selection Freshman Jesse Muncy followed up his breakout performance from Thursday against Lawrence Co. with a game high 31 points vs the much bigger and physical Highlanders.
Muncy scored the first 13 points of the game for the Rebels who trailed 12-2 just minutes into the game before rallying to tie the score at 19 after one period.
Tolsia led 37-33 with under ten seconds before Kris Brown hit one of his four three pointers to bring the Highlander within one point at Halftime. Brown finished with a team high 21 points after becoming eligible on Friday.
In the third quarter the two teams traded baskets before settling at 50-50 headed to the final stanza.
Huntington turned up the pressure midway through the fourth quarter and forced the Rebels into some costly turnovers that turned into easy points for the Highlanders to give them some much needed breathing room and escape Rebel Arena with the victory 67-61.
Muncy finished with 59 points in the two day event. Braxton Williams tallied 9 points, Jacob Mollette 8 points, Tyler Johnson 7 points, Zane Sturgill, Rob Cantrell and Austin Salmons had 2 points each.
HHS 19 17 14 17 = 67
THS 19 18 13 11 = 61
Tolsia will return to action at Rebel Arena vs bitter rival Tug Valley ( 2-1 ) on Tuesday night.
Huntington will return to action at Riverside on Monday night.
Tolsia Head Coach Todd Maynard
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… Wow what a Thursday and Saturday at Rebel Arena for the first ever #RISEabove Rebel Shootout. It was a long day Saturday for my crew, boosters, and helpers. It was great to see the vertical alignment of all our programs under one umbrella. Fort Gay youth league had some great games followed by Fort Gay Middle and Crum Middle competing at Rebel Arena.”
“… Our High School Runnin’ Rebels played with one of the top premium programs Huntington High in the consolation game. Huntington won 67-61. Championship game was Lawrence County and Johnson Central with the Golden Eagles of Johnson Central capturing the first annual championship for this event.”
“… The basketball and atmosphere was awesome for all communities who competed but the most important part of this event was the speakers who shared their testimony to the teams and crowds and how to overcome adversity in life and battle in the trenches in life. Great awareness of not falling into peer pressure and experimentation with substance abuse and making those huge life decisions. We had a blast during this event”
“… I want to Thank Matt Brown and all of our sponsors and everyone involved with the operations and the vision of something special. We as one community to see how this event will effect people. Can’t wait for next year and see how this can grow in year number two. Let’s make some ripple effects! Tolsia basketball loves you all!”
