STAFF REPORT
SUMMERTOWN — The Community Vikings (12-17) trailed No. 1 Summertown by 17 points at halftime of Saturday night’s Region 5-AA quarterfinal.
The Purple and Gold eventually stormed back and tied the game at 66 with two minutes to go, but never could get over the hump as the Eagles (22-9) survived the Vikings’ rally, 76-72.
Summertown was red-hot out of the gate and scored the first 15 points of the game.
While Community was able to get sporadic spurts of offense throughout the first half, the Eagles built a 17-point lead by halftime thanks to a 25-point second quarter.
But after halftime, the Vikings flipped the script and while Summertown saw the bulk of its offense come from the free throw line in the third, Community got back in the game with timely 3-pointers and spreading 20 points among five players.
Senior Maki Fleming hit two treys in the third and Moe Berman added another.
In the fourth, Fleming, along with Landon Lovvorn, put on an offensive clinic.
Fleming totaled 12 of his game-high 26 points in the period, while Lovvorn also went for 12 points.
While Summertown was able to effectively still get to the free throw line, the efficiency plummeted as the Eagles made just 5-of-14 tries in the fourth.
Still, the No. 1 seeded Eagles were able to scrap together enough offense to hold off the Vikings’ rally and end Community’s season.
As a team, Summertown shot 17-of-35 free throw tries, while Community went 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.
In addition to Fleming’s 26 points, Lovvorn chipped in 25, while Austin Stickler added 11.
Kurt Burleson led the Eagles with 24 points.
Community ends the season with a 12-17 overall record.
Community 11 13 20 28 — 72
Summertown 16 25 15 20 — 76
Community: Maki Fleming 26, Landon Lovvorn 25, Austin Stickler 11, Josh Powers 3, Moe Berman 3, Judd O’Neal 2, Jaxon Williams 2.
Summertown: Kurt Burleson 24, Grayson Burleson 21, Lleyton Sherman 12, Andrew Maury 7, Jackson Bennett 7, Ty Bryant 5.
3-Point goals: Community (6): Fleming 3, Berman, Powers; Summertown (7): Sherman 4, K. Burleson 2, Bennett.
Halftime score: Summertown 41, Community 24.
