Tyreek Anthony delivered when it mattered most, powering Fort Campbell to a gritty 62-60 win over Todd County on Friday night.
The junior finished with a game-high 29 points, including 22 in the second half, knocking down multiple clutch shots to help secure the victory. With about three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Anthony’s number was called out of a timeout, and he buried a key 3-pointer to put the Falcons ahead by four.
“Tyreek is just one of those players. He always comes in prepared. He does a good job leading those guys, and it’s a blessing to coach him,” Fort Campbell coach Austin Byrum said. “There are a lot of things he does that I can’t take credit for, but he handles pressure well. He’s a big part of our team, and I could not be more proud of him, having some of the moments he’s had.”
Kyre Ferguson added 12 points and converted a blow-by layup to stretch the lead to 59-53. After the teams traded layups, J.P. Perryman pulled down a crucial rebound while surrounded by Rebels defenders. Perryman hit one of two free throws to give Fort Campbell a 62-60 lead.
Todd County’s John Ross Cardwell drove the lane with a chance to tie the game with just under 25 seconds remaining, but Anthony rose up for a block to deny the Rebels and preserve the two-point edge.
The Falcons secured the victory after a jump ball was called with 14.7 seconds left. Following a missed layup that ran precious seconds off the clock, the Rebels were unable to get off a quality shot before time expired.
“Our guys didn’t give up, kudos to them. They battled through adversity,” Byrum said. “We went to the free-throw line and went 1 of 8 over the last minute and a half, and I thought that was going to be our Achilles’ heel. But our guys never quit. We boxed out and played good defense at the end, and they just found a way to win. I could not be more proud of them.”
Todd County shot 52% from the free-throw line, while Fort Campbell finished at 45%, leaving points on the board and keeping the game tight throughout.
Cardwell did all he could to keep the Rebels in contention, scoring 22 points, including 12 in the third quarter. Spencer Pool and Conner Holder also reached double figures with 10 and 13 points, respectively.
The Falcons shot 10 of 29 from 3-point range and finished at 38% from the field overall.
The win lifted Fort Campbell to 2-1 on the young season. Byrum said the team’s ability to battle through adversity while maintaining a tough, physical style of play reflects a growing emphasis on building a winning culture.
“We set a lot of goals at the beginning of the season, and that’s something we keep reiterating,” Byrum said. “At Fort Campbell last year, I think we won three games, so we’re trying to build off that and change the culture here. We’re trying to do it with each practice and each moment — playing hard, battling through adversity and finding ways to get better.”
