STAFF REPORT
COALMONT — During Friday night’s regular season finale, Community’s Landon Lovvorn dumped in a game-best 28 points to help wrap up the regular season on a high note for the Purple and Gold.
In Monday night’s elimination District 9-2A play-in game, Lovvorn delivered again, this time going for a game-high 20 points as the Vikings ended the Rockets’ season with the 58-53 win.
Lovvorn did a little bit of everything, from hitting perimeter shots early on, to getting to the free throw line and cashing in on the appearances at the charity stripe.
In the first quarter alone, he spurred a 17-point Viking quarter with three made treys.
From there, Community effectively got to the line and made the most of its time there, going 14-of-20 over the final three quarters, with Lovvorn accounting for eight made free throws.
While Friday’s meeting against the Rockets turned into a track meet, notably in the first quarter, Community dictated the game’s tempo in the first half and nearly doubled up Forrest on a 17-9 run in the first frame.
Forrest eventually got it going thanks to the long ball in the second quarter.
The Rockets hit four 3-pointers in the second and trimmed the Viking lead to a single possession by halftime.
But out of the intermission, Community went back to work effectively getting to the line and again answered with a 17-point third to stretch the lead.
While the fourth quarter saw just two made field goals from Landon Berman and Josh Powers, the Vikings made the most of their shots from the charity stripe down the stretch, going 6-of-8 in the final quarter.
Lovvorn was the only Viking to hit double figures and finished with 20 points, while Forrest got 15 apiece from Tristan Goad and Andruw Myers.
The win advances Community to the District 9-2A semifinals against No. 1 seed Cannon County, which will be on Thursday evening at 6 p.m.
Community 17 12 17 12 — 58
Forrest 9 18 12 14 — 53
Community: Landon Lovvorn 20, Charlie Haskins 9, Landon Berman 8, Josh Powers 8, Moe Berman 5, Jaxson Williams 4, Austin Stickler 4.
Forrest: Tristan Goad 15, Andruw Myers 15, Jon Hightower 8, Matthew Yeager 6, Josh Doud 6, Jean Astolfi 3.
3-Point goals: Community (2): M. Berman, Lovvorn; Forrest (6): Yeager 2, Goad 2, Astolfi, Myers.
Halftime score: Community 29, Forrest 27.
