The Commerce Tiger boys’ basketball team enters the Christmas break with a fourth-place finish in the third annual Community Bank and Trust Holiday Classic at Piedmont College last weekend.
The Tigers take on Jackson County Monday, Dec. 28, at 4:30 p.m.
Commerce restarts the basketball season in the new year, as the Tigers face Social Circle on the road Jan. 5.
Holiday Classic
The Tigers started tournament play with a 48-45 win in a back-and-forth contest with Oglethorpe County.
With a slim 15-13 lead after the first period, the Tigers were outscored 12-8 in the second. Commerce responded following the break to outscore Oglethorpe 18-7 to take a 38-34 lead into the final quarter. The Tigers held off the Patriots’ attempt to retake the lead in the final quarter and slipped by with a three-point win.
Channing Anderson led the Commerce offense with 13 points, while Brandon Romans scored 12, going 4-for-5 on free throws. Greg Hayes added six, followed by Bubba Bonds with five. Marquese Butler and Tyler Gamble scored four apiece.
Up next for Commerce was Stephens County. The Tigers drew the game out to the final seconds, but were unable to put in the final shot and fell 59-57.
At the half Commerce was down 33-38 after leading the first quarter 18-17. With 3:30 left to play, Commerce retook the lead 55-54. Stephens County rallied for five more points while the Tigers picked up two.
Bonds led the Tigers with 16, followed by Anthony Norris with 14. Romans scored 12 and Anderson 10. Gamble added three points and Deon Brock contributed two.
Final round
The Tigers faced Chestatee in the battle for third place Monday night. Commerce held onto a tentative lead after the first quarter, 19-18 and maintained it at the half, 32-31.
The Tigers managed to extend their lead in the third quarter outscoring Chestatee 17-14. Unfortunately for the Tigers, during the final quarter Chestatee got hot and outscored Commerce 21-9 to take a 66-58 win and the third-place trophy.
Gamble led the Tigers, scoring 18 points. Norris followed with 13 points while Romans scored 10. Anderson picked up nine points and was named to the All-Tournament team. Bonds rounded out the scoring with eight.
