Fort Campbell couldn’t see through the Christmas forest on Friday for the Todd County threes.
Todd County Central knocked down eight shots from behind the arc – five in the first quarter – as the Rebels beat the Falcons 63-46 to give Walter McCombs his first win as Todd Central coach.
The Rebels had started fast in earlier home losses to Trigg County and Monroe County but couldn’t sustain it for the full four quarters.
On Friday, they never trailed against the Falcons and had an answer every time Fort Campbell whittled away at their lead.
“I feel like every game we played, we were always in the game. It’s just us putting together four quarters. These guys have been grinding, and they’ve been putting in the work and we finally put together four quarters and got a win, and I’m proud of the guys,” McCombs said.
Conner Holder hit a trio of 3-pointers in the opening quarter as the Rebels built a 13-6 lead and extended it to 19-11 as Brett Harris and Tay Shemwell splashed home threes.
Todd County pushed the lead to double digits, but Fort Campbell cut into that lead as Tyreek Anthony and Israel Dillard combined to score 21 of the Falcons’ 23 first half points.
Anthony and Perryman each scored six points in the third quarter but Fort Campbell couldn’t gain much ground as they shot just 32% from the field in the second half.
Todd County Central for 11 fewer shots than Fort Campbell in the second half but hit 48% from the floor.
“We always play comfortable at home and shoot the ball good at home, and that’s one thing we’ve got to try to translate over to the road,” McCombs said. “When (Fort Campbell) made their run, we were just taking quick shots. When they don’t go in, it leads to transition shots for them (Fort Campbell). Once we started taking our time, we eventually started getting the flow back in the game, and we finished it.”
Three Rebels found their way to double figures led by Harris’ 19 points. Holder added 14 points, and Shemwell scored 10.
Anthony, who came into Friday’s game scoring 21 points a game, went two points higher for the Falcons with 23 points. Dillard added 13 points and 10 rebounds, and JP Perryman contributed eight points and 11 rebounds – nine on the offensive glass.
Todd County Central has won three straight against the Falcons and five of six.
The game was part of the eight-team United Southern Bank’s Battle at the Border played at both the high school and middle school.
Todd Central will play Mayfield (4-1) on Saturday morning at 10:00 – their first meeting in 18 years. Mayfield defeated Montgomery Central, Tenn. 65-36.
Fort Campbell will play Montgomery Central at 10:00 at the middle school.
The other two games saw Union County defeat Smyrna, Tenn. 60-54 and Muhlenberg County edged Russellville 56-50.
Fort Campbell 11 12 14 9– 46
Todd County Central 19 12 14 18– 63
Fort Campbell (1-7) – Anthony 23, Dillard 13, Perryman 8, Tow 2
Todd County Central (1-6) – Harris 19, Holder 14, Shemwell 10, Schutt 8, Johnson 4, Toliver 4, Glass 2, Hays 2
