BREVARD, N.C. – The scoring combination of James Contreras Jr. and Harrison Cochran, who finished with 22 and 16 points, respectively, led Averett to a 77-67 victory over Brevard on Senior Night at Boshamer Gym.
The Tornados (4-17) countered with 19 points each from the scoring trio of Levi Lamb, JaMarquis Johnson and senior guard Stevie Williams. Both Johnson and Williams finished 7-of-16 from the floor, while Lamb closed out the game hitting 6-of-12. Johnson was successful on 3-of-8 attempts from 3-point range, while Williams finished 4-of-5 from the free throw line and Lamb was 5-of-6 at the charity stripe.
Brevard scored 18 point by virtue of hitting 6-of-27 from beyond the arc and added 13 by virtue of a 13-of-15 (86.7%) from the free throw line. The Tornados also finished with a 16-9 edge in points off turnovers.
Clinging to a one point lead entering the second half a layup by Levi Lamb allowed Brevard to assume a 36-33 advantage less than one minute into the frame. Cochran answered that with back-to-back 3-pointers for the Cougars (11-11), who built a 41-36 lead by the 17:24 mark.
The combination of gritty defense, a layup by Qadhafi Turner and a trey off the hand of Levi Lamb allowed Brevard to move in front 50-48 just inside the 13 minute mark. Cochran again proved to be the Tornados' nemesis, draining two 3-pointers during a 14-4 run by Averett, who took a 64-54 lead at the 8:03 mark.
The Cougars eventually pushed that lead to 13, following consecutive scores by Contreras and Montre' Cash, but Lamb and Williams scored six points for Brevard during a 1:19 stretch to trim the Averett lead to 74-67. Darin Ketner slipped past a solid defensive attack by the Tornados, knocking down a critical 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining, to help the Cougars clinch the victory.
Averett wrapped up the game hitting 32-of-61 (52.5%) from the floor, after knocking down 15-of-25 (60%) in the first half. The Cougars were successful on 8-of-16 (50%) from beyond the arch and 5-of-7 (71.4%) at the free throw line.
Brevard established its offense early, streaking out to a 14-4 lead over the first 4:44 of the contest due in large part to seven points off the hand of Johnson. Averett nearly flipped the score on the Tornados, putting together a 10-3 run, but a timely trey from long distance by Johnson kept Brevard in front by three, 17-4.
After the Tornados stretched the lead to 19-14, following a jumper by Williams, Averett scored six unanswered to grab a one-point lead following a layup by Will Shumate. The lead exchanged hands eight times over the final 5:01 of the half with neither team able to sustain more than a three-point at any point during the stretch.
Brevard entered the locker room with a 34-33 advantage by hitting a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line and by scoring 13 points on 15 Averett miscues. Johnson led all scorers with 15 points in the opening half, while Contreras countered with 14 for the Cougars.
The Tornados complete their season on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at Covenant.
