Demopolis falls in overtime with only four players

Despite finishing the game with only four players, Demopolis (0-1) fell by a narrow margin in its season opener Tuesday, losing 49-47 to Bibb County (2-2) in overtime.

Kiante’ Jefferies tied the game at the end of regulation when he nailed a three-pointer to erase a nine-point deficit and send the game to an extra period.

After having three Tigers foul out, Demopolis lost guard D.J. Howell to injury, forcing the team to finish with only four players on the floor.

“In overtime, we ended up going up by two with maybe a minute and 30 seconds left. We ended up taking a bad shot,” Demopolis coach Rodney Jackson said. “I was proud of the way my kids competed in the first game and that was Bibb County’s fourth game.”

Demopolis led 14-10 after the first quarter before struggling over the next two frames, a span in which it posted a total of 11 points.

Trailing 34-25 heading into the game’s fourth quarter, Demopolis hung 18 points on the board over the final eight minutes of regulation to give itself an opportunity in bonus time.

“One thing that I was excited about was that I drew up a play and they ran it to perfection and we knocked it down,” Jackson said.

Jefferies, who played all 36 minutes in the contest, led Demopolis with 15 points. Cortez Lewis added seven for the Tigers.

Demopolis is scheduled to host John Essex Thursday night before traveling to A.L. Johnson Friday.