By Patrick Ledington
ONEIDA — The Middlesboro Yellow Jackets and Red Bird Cardinals opened the 13th Region Class A Tournament on Saturday, and it didn’t take long for Middlesboro to take control.
The Yellow Jackets set the tone from the opening tip with a fast tempo and relentless defensive pressure. Junior Bryson Brooks scored 10 of his game-high 18 points in the first quarter as Middlesboro jumped out to a commanding 27-11 lead.
The second quarter was more of the same. Middlesboro poured in 20 more points while holding Red Bird to just 11. The Yellow Jackets continued forcing turnovers that led to easy scoring opportunities in transition and carried a 47-22 advantage into halftime.
Middlesboro turned the game into a runaway in the third quarter, erupting for 30 points in the frame. Senior Mahki Young scored 10 points in the quarter, while senior Joseph Killion knocked down a pair of three-pointers as the lead ballooned to 77-33 heading into the final period.
With a comfortable cushion in the fourth quarter, head coach Eddie Gilbert emptied his bench and gave his younger players valuable tournament experience. Freshman Emmitt Butler made the most of his opportunity, scoring 11 points in the final quarter and finishing with 15 points in the second half.
Middlesboro placed four players in double figures, led by Brooks’ 18 points. Young, Killion, and Butler each finished with 15 points as the Yellow Jackets cruised into the second round of the All “A” Tournament.
