By By Adam Robinson – Sports Editor
Justin Payne had 28 points and eight 3-pointers to lead T.R. Miller to a big 56-42 win over Cottage Hill Thursday night in Brewton.
Payne had 26 points through three quarters with eight 3-pointers and added two points in the fourth quarter along with four rebounds.
Corey Redfearn added 17 points and 18 rebounds for the Tigers as they improved to 3-12 overall but most importantly 3-2 in area play. The Tigers are one win away from hosting the area tournament.
T.R. Miller Tiger head coach said Payne and Redfearn had the big night in the stats books, but others also contributed to the win.
Edge said Justin Payne really lifted his game tonight and reached towards his potential.
While the Tigers may only have three wins in 15 games this season, those three wins have been area games.
Along with Payne and Redfearn, Joe McCorvey added four points in the win for the Tigers and Terez Lane added three points. Jaren Jackson and Keenan Pride had two points each in the win. Lane added four rebounds and four assist in the win.
T.R. Miller was set to take on Choctaw County at home on Saturday in the final area game of the season for the Tigers. With a win, the Tigers could clinch the regular season area championship and host the tournament. If the Tigers lost Saturday, Choctaw County will hold the tournament with a 5-1 record and the Tigers would drop to second place at 3-3. Cottage Hill took third place with 3-3 and Bayside took fourth place at 1-5.
In the game on Thursday, the Tigers took an early 8-0 lead to open the game and then held a 13-2 lead after Payne's second 3-pointer of the night with 1:26 left to play in the first quarter.
Cottage Hill ended the quarter on a 5-3 run as T.R. Miller held a 16-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter of play, Payne stayed hot and connected for his fourth 3-pointer of the night to give the Tigers a 19-9 lead with 7:09 left to play in the half.
Cottage Hill closed as close as five points to the Tigers with 1:34 left to play at 23-18 after a 4-0 run, but the Tigers responded with a 4-0 run of their own to lead 27-18 with 11 seconds left.
Cottage Hill connected for a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut the lead to 27-21 at the half.
In the second half, the Tigers benefited from a 10-0 run to claim a 15-point lead at 42-27 with 2:23 left to play in the quarter.
Payne added four 3-pointers in the quarter as T.R. Miller outscored Cottage Hill 18-8 in the quarter to claim a 45-29 lead heading into the fourth quarter of play.
In the fourth quarter, the Tigers jumped out to an early 6-0 lead to take a 51-29 lead with 6:25.
Cottage Hill outscored the Tigers 13-11 in the quarter, but managed only one field goal as they connected for desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the game on 10-0 run.
The Warriors were 10-of-14 from the free throw line in the quarter and used the 10-0 run to cut the Tiger lead to 56-39 with 13.3 seconds left to play. The Tigers led by as much as 24 points in the quarter.
The two-point scoring advantage in the quarter was not enough to overcome the Tiger's early lead as T.R. Miller held on for the 14-point win, 56-42.