By BY BRUCE HIXON – SPORTS EDITOR
Thirteen proved to be an unlucky number for the Brewton Middle School Lady Tigers, as the program's winning streak was snapped at that figure Thursday when it dropped a 23-19 overtime decision at Escambia County.
It was the first loss for Brewton this season and its first setback since it closed out the 2004-05 season with a 36-34 loss at Pollard-McCall.
Missed free throws and foul trouble proved to be too much for the Lady Tigers (3-1) to overcome. Brewton missed 22 free throws although Escambia County actually missed 26 charity tosses. Five Brewton players fouled out, which included four starters.
Despite problems in those areas, Brewton overcame a sluggish first half where it scored just three points and trailed 5-3 at the midway point to take a 17-12 fourth quarter lead.
Escambia County ended regulation on a 7-2 run to tie the game at 19-19 to force overtime. Escambia County then scored all four points of the overtime session.
Natalie Neal and Adrian Gibbs both had seven points to lead the Lady Tigers.
The Lady Tigers used a big first half to dispose of visiting Flomaton 30-21 Tuesday.
Brewton's defense held the Lady Hurricanes scoreless for the first seven minutes of the game. The Lady Tigers built a 7-0 lead during that stretch and extended their cushion to a commanding 20-6 bulge by halftime. Adrian Gibbs and Leah Brundidge built much of that advantage. Gibbs had three field goals and a free throw during the first half, while Brundidge contributed three baskets. Gibbs eventually led the Lady Tigers for the game with 12 points, while Brundidge added 11.
Brewton stretched its lead to a game-high margin of 24-8 on a bucket by Gibbs two minutes into the second half. Flomaton cut the gap to single digits early in the fourth quarter, but never got closer than seven.
The Brewton Tigers dropped below the .500 mark for the season with a 35-19 loss to Flomaton.
The Hurricanes scored the game's first 11 points and the Tigers did not score until Kori Jackson hit a shot from the corner just inside three-point land at the buzzer.
Jackson's shot produced the first of his 15 points in the game. The rest of the Brewton lineup contributed just four points.
A three-point play by Jackson with 1:46 left in the first half narrowed Flomaton's lead to 16-11, but the Tigers got no closer the rest of the way.
The Hurricanes, who got 10 points from Tata Ellis, stretched their lead to 19-11 by halftime and into double digits for the remainder of the game in the opening moments of the second half. Flomaton's 16-point margin of victory was its largest lead of the game.
The Tigers also suffered a 45-23 setback at Escambia County Thursday.
Escambia County built a 20-8 lead by halftime and secured its win with an 11-3 scoring edge in the third quarter to open up a 20-point advantage.
Kori Jackson had 10 points to pace Brewton (1-3), while Jaren Jackson added six.
Brewton's next action is Monday when it travels to W.S. Neal. Play starts at 4 p.m. with the girls game.
Tuesday's games
Girls
Flomaton 0 6 6 9 - 21
Brewton 7 13 4 6 - 30
BREWTON- Gibbs 12, Brundidge 11, Rush 2, Jones 2, Kiser 2, Neal 1
Flomaton 11 8 6 10 - 35
Brewton 2 9 4 4 - 19
BREWTON- K. Jackson 15, Winn 3, Moore 1
Thursday's games
Girls
Brewton 2 1 10 6 0 – 19
Escambia Co. 4 1 4 10 4 – 23
BREWTON- Neal 7, Gibbs 7, Brundidge 2, Jones 1, Kiser 1, Guthrie 1
Brewton 6 2 3 12 - 23
Escambia Co. 11 9 11 14 - 45
BREWTON- K. Jackson 10, J. Jackson 6, Moore 5, Salter 2