BELL BUCKLE, Tenn. – The Community Vikings (17-11, 3-5) jumped out to an early 12-0 lead and never looked back, blowing out Cascade (15-13, 4-4) in a wire-to-wire win, 60-38, in the District 9-AA consolation game on Saturday afternoon for Hunter Ferrell’s first win in the ‘Battle of Bedford’ as the Vikings’ head coach.

“I just think our guys were really hungry,” Ferrell said, “Both teams could feel a little upset being in the consolation game because we both could have easily been playing for a championship after last night, but our guys responded really well. They don’t usually stay down for very long, and you could tell they really wanted to win this game. They just keep showing up, and I think our guys were mentally right from the start. The energy and effort really really helped us today.”

Charlie Haskins led all scorers with a game-high 28 points, and he finished as the only player in double-figures for Community. 

Kaleb Kelso led Cascade with 12 points while Cooper McElroy finished with 11 points.

After the Vikings raced out to the early 12-0 lead, the two teams scored seven points apiece to close out the opening period with the Vikings leading 19-9. Tristin Billings scored all seven of his points off the bench for Cascade in the first quarter in an attempt to keep his squad within reach.

However, in the second stanza, Haskins took over for Community, finishing with nine points in the frame as the Vikings outscored Cascade 18-5 to take a commanding 37-14 lead heading into the halftime locker room.

Cascade showed a few signs of life in the third quarter, trimming the lead down to 16 points, 41-25, after Kelso capitalized on a Community turnover with a layup at the 2:12 mark of the period. This prompted a timeout from Ferrell, but the Champions managed to hold the deficit at 16, 45-29, heading into the final frame.

The hosts even got it down to 50-35 with just under five minutes to go, but the Vikings ultimately closed on a 10-3 run in the final 4:55 to secure third place in the Boys’ District 9-AA Tournament.

Community improves to 17-11 overall. The Vikings travel to Lewis County on Saturday night in Region 5-AA quarterfinals with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Cascade falls to 15-13 overall. The Champions travel to District 10-AA champions Hickman County on Saturday night in the Region 5-AA quarterfinals, LIVE on The Zinger 100.9 and AM 1400 at 6:45 p.m.

CASCADE: K. Kelso 12, C. McElroy 11 (2), T. Billings 7 (1), I. Taylor 3, L. Beasley 2, H. Stone 2. 

COMMUNITY: C. Haskins 28 (1), J. Powers 9 (2), K. Boyce 6, J. Lawwell 6, A. Tocchio 4 (1), M. Hill 3 (1), C. Dukes 2, J. Williams 2.