UNIONVILLE – Throughout the 2022-23 basketball season, the Community Vikings have experienced problems sustaining a consistency on the court for 32 minutes.

Tuesday night, the Vikings turned it around with a high-pressure defensive effort the entire game that led to a 20-3 third-quarter advantage as Community picked up its first win with a 64-49 victory over the Cornersville Bulldogs.

“No one felt the pressure of winning more than these kids,” Coach Robbie Davis of the Vikings said. “I am happy they finally were able to come into a locker room after a win.”

It was a low-scoring first quarter as both teams had trouble getting untracked. Hayden Grover led Cornersville (6-12) with four points while Landon Lovvorn paced Community (1-18) with six points. The Viqueens took an 8-7 lead to the second quarter.

The scoring increased as 12 players netted points in the second quarter. Five Vikings scored three points to lead the seven Community scorers while Kel Ford scored four points to lead five Bulldogs in the scoring column. The Vikings ended the half with a 26-21 advantage.

With a relentless press that forced Bulldog turnovers and rushed shots, the Vikings went into another gear in the third quarter. Corey Paterick and Cole Crockett each had five points as the Vikings connected on their first three field goal attempts to go up 32-21.

After the Bulldogs scored their three points, Community finished with the final 14 points to take a 46-24 lead to the final quarter.

Ben Franklin and Carter Neat each scored eight points as the Bulldogs got hot with 25 points in the quarter. Cornersville used a 7-0 run to get within 12 at 59-47 with 2:03 to play, but it was as close as the Bulldogs would get. Ramone Hernandez of the Vikings was 7-of-8 from the foul line as Community extended its lead with a 5-0 run and took the 15-point win.

Lovvorn led the Vikings with 17 points.

Franklin led the Bulldogs with 12 points while Grover added 11.

The Vikings finished 15-of-24 at the charity stripe while the Bulldogs were 8-of-12.

Davis changed his lineup going into the game.

“We knew we were going to start the young guys and bring in the older kids,” Davis said. “Our hopes were that we could contain without fouling and create more offensive opportunities and tonight we did.”

“The reason we won this game was 100 percent the attitudes of the seniors,” Davis added.
“Our sophomore guards Jason Cullum and Landon Lovvorn came out and played big to start the game. Then our seniors came in with high energy, great pressure, and were flying to the ball.”

“We told them in the locker room, it’s simple,” Davis said. “For the first time this season, let’s play to win the game and not to keep from losing it.”

Community travels to Grundy County for a District 7-AA game Friday night at 8 p.m. while the Bulldogs play host to Moore County in a District 9-A game also on Friday night.

Cornersville 7 14 3 25 - 49
Community 8 18 20 18 - 64
Cornersville: Ben Franklin 12, Hayden Grover 11, Carter Neat 8, Gage Lovell 6, Blaine Woodard 5, Kel Ford 4, Kale Adcox 3, Jacob Courtemanche.
Community: Landon Lovvorn 17, Jason Cullum 7, Austin Stickler 2, Landon Berman, Noah Watson, Cole Crockett 9, Corey Paterick 8, Jacob Flannagan 8, Ramone Hernandez 7, Moe Berman 3, Emery Smith 3, Dallas Grooms, Jaxon Williams, Isaiah Beech.
3-Point goals: Cornersville (5): Lovell 2, Neat, Woodard, Adcox; Community (7): Lovvorn 3, Paterick 2, Crockett, M. Berman.
Halftime score: Community 26, Cornersville 21.