The second game of Tuesday night’s twin bill saw the Giles County Bobcats taking on the Marshall County Tigers in a crucial District 12-AA matchup for both teams.

The Tigers fell behind early, but kept fighting and scrapping to tie it up in the fourth quarter before Giles County’s J.C. Brown poured in 15 points in the final stanza and the Bobcats came away with a 65-62 win.

“We got down early and had to fight back, but we just couldn’t close the deal,” MCHS coach Lavon King said. “They hit their free throws and that’s what you’ve got to do to win.”

“We will keep working and hopefully peak at tournament time. We go to Forrest Friday night to get some revenge after they got a win at our place, we hope to turn the tables on them and get one up there.”

Brown led Giles County with 21 points and Omarion Alred matched it for MCHS.

The Bobcats, who have more length than the Tigers, jumped out in front with Zy Yarborough and Dean Johnson suppling the firepower as they combined for 11 first quarter points.

Alred and Caneilus Turner teamed up for the Tigers as they accounted for nine points and MCHS trailed by five points at the end of the first quarter, 17-12.

In the second period, Giles County’s length caused problems for the Tigers, but Devonte Davis made his presence known by working hard inside, scoring four points.

The Bobcats stretched their lead to 11 points late in the second quarter when Turner pulled up for a 3-pointer that went in as the horn sounded.

Turner was fouled on the shot and with no time left on the clock, he walked to the line and sank a free throw to make it 29-22 at halftime.

King had his charges on fire in the third quarter as Davis scored four straight points to cut Giles County’s lead to three points at 29-26.

The Bobcats did not fold as Jake Cardin rained in two 3-pointers and a two-point basket and Dakorbian Bellefant scored his four points to help the Bobcats keep the Tigers at bay 44-39 at the end of the third quarter.

The Tigers began to roar back at the start of the fourth quarter as Turner and Blake Hardison sank 3-pointers to offset a Cardin long shot from the corner.

The Tigers, sensing the time had come at the 6:01 mark, closed to within two points at 47-45.

Alred went to the line with a chance to tie the score on a one-and-one free throw, but missed.

Alred did not miss on the Tigers next possession from the floor with a jumper that tied the game at 47.

This was the time that Brown went to work with a basket and a free throw and then by making two 3-point shots, stretching the Bobcats’ lead to six points at 56-52 with 2:03 left in the game.

Brown hit two free-throws to make the score 58-52 with 1:50 left in the contest, but Turner and Alred responded with made baskets, cutting the lead to two points.

Brown struck again with two free throws, but Silas Hurt scored a basket and Davis knocked in a put-back on the next Tigers’ possession, tying the game at 60.

Yarborough sank a free-throw to make the score 61-60 and after a MCHS turnover, Brown went back to the line for two more free throws to put the Bobcats up by three points with 26.9 seconds left.

An Alred jumper cut the lead to one point at 63-62, but Brown was fouled with 4.8 seconds left in the game and went to the free throw and sank both to make it 65-62.

The ensuing inbounds pass went to Turner, who streaked down the court and put up a potential game-tying 3-pointer, but Yarbrough got just enough of the ball to cause it to fall short of the goal as the horn sounded to end the game.

Giles County 17 12 15 21 - 65

MCHS 12 10 17 23-62

Giles County (65), J.C. Brown 21, Jake Cardin 15, Zac Yarborough 12, Devin Johnson 11, Dekorbian Bellefant 4, Gavin Busby 2.

Three-Point Goals (6): Cardin 3, Brown 2, Bellefant.

Free Throws (19-for-23): Brown 11-for-11, Cardin 4-for-5, Yarborough 3-for-6, Johnson 1-for-1.

MCHS (62): Omarion Alred 21, Caneilus Turner 18, Devonte Davis 12, Silas Hurt 6, Blake Hardison 3, Jayden Hurt 2.

Three-Point Goals (6): Alred 3, Turner 2, Hardison.

Free Throws (8-for-16): Alred 2-for-5. Hurt 2-for-4, Turner 2-for-2, Davis 2-for-5.

Halftime Score: Giles County 29, MCHS 22.

District 12-AA Standings

Community 24-1, 7-0

Nolensville 9-14, 4-3

Giles County 6-9, 4-3

Central Magnet 10-13, 3-4

Marshall County 8-12, 2-5

Forrest 3-21, 1-6