THOMASVILLE — The Class AA No. 4-ranked Thomasville boys hoops team remained perfect late Wednesday night, becoming the Hoopfest champions at the expense of Herald No. 4 Bainbridge (7-4).
Thomasville won its seventh game in a row to begin the season as it blistered the Bearcats, 72-48 — the worst loss of Bainbridge’s season after all of its first three came in the final seconds — in the championship game of the Holiday Hoopest at Thomasville High School.
Bainbridge, which advanced to the Final Four in Class AAAA last year, kept the game close with last year’s Region 1-AA champions. Thomasville held a slim eight-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. But that final period, the Bulldogs outscored the Bearcats, 26-10, to surge to the victory.
Leading the Bulldogs, offensively, was Willie Clayton with 22 points, while Bainbridge was led by Justin Harris’ 10 points, followed by Jeremy Harper (8) and Davario Thomas (7).
Thomasville also capitalized at the charity stripe. The Bulldogs converted 14-of-19 free throws.
Thomasville will travel to Ocala, Fla. next week to play in the Kingdom of the Sun tournament. The Bulldogs’ first game will be Monday against Summit Christian.
Other scorers Wednesday night for the Bulldogs were Fred Holton with seven, Charles Hayes with six, Carlton Butts with four and Trey Gosier with three.