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OLIVER SPRINGS — A season-ending win over Oneida—and a little help from the TSSAA’s tie-breaking formula—enabled Oliver Springs to capture the District 4-A regular season title by virtue of an unlikely set of circumstances.
The Bobcats defeated the Indians 54-50 in Oliver Springs Friday night, wrapping up a 9-3 district season. A 65-61 Jellico win over Sunbright the same night put the Bobcats in position to claim the district crown.
Heading into the final week of the season, Sunbright looked like a lock for the regular season championship. The surprise team of the district, the Tigers were also the district’s only unbeaten team. But three consecutive losses—beginning with a 64-46 loss to Oliver Springs on Feb. 9 and continuing with a 70-59 setback to Wartburg two nights later—made for a little late-season drama, as Sunbright, Oliver Springs and Jellico wound up in a three-way tie atop the district standings, each with a 9-3 record.
The district was viewed as wide-open when the first games tipped off in November, and it didn’t disappoint.
The lack of separation in the district was underscored by Friday’s tightly contested game in Oliver Springs. The Bobcats completed a season sweep of the Indians. But the district-leading Bobcats needed an unlikely last-second shot at Oneida in December to win the first of the two games against the district’s fourth place team.
And if Wartburg’s upset of Sunbright Thursday showed anything, it is that no fewer than five teams are capable of winning the District 4-A Tournament, which begins tonight (Thursday) at the home gymnasium of the higher seeded schools.
But of those five, at least one will not be making the trip to the region tournament. Oneida and Wartburg square off tonight at OHS Gymnasium. The Indians swept the Bulldogs in the regular season, but needed overtime to escape in the first meeting at Wartburg.
Only Oliver Springs, with a first round tournament bye, is a lock for the Region 2-A Tournament. Sunbright and Jellico will face Coalfield and Oakdale in the first round.
Cumberland Gap 57, Oneida 46: Cumberland Gap overcame an early deficit to avenge an earlier loss to Oneida, defeating the Indians on senior night at OHS Gymnasium Tuesday, Feb. 9.
Cody Carson scored 20 points and Dylan West added 13 in their final regular season home game. Jake Wright also had 13 points, while Noah Duncan scored two.
The Indians trailed 34-28 at the intermission. Cumberland Gap outscored Oneida 17-9 in the third quarter to pull away.
