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NEW TAZEWELL – The Pound was rocking Friday night and the fans that packed Claiborne’s gym certainly got their money’s worth.

Neil Bunch’s three that hit the rim, bounded straight up and then fell through the cylinder at the buzzer for Cumberland Gap tied the game and forced an extra period. The Panthers used Bunch’s big shot momentum to limit Claiborne to only five points in overtime and won 74-68 in the second installment of the Battle of the Bridge game this season.

For most of the first three periods, the two teams remained close as the biggest lead either squad had was four points. Claiborne used a big push late in the third, however, as they reeled off 10 points in row with Connor King scoring six of them. The Bulldogs took a 47-40 advantage at the end of the third period and then made it a 10-point game when Chase Robinette sank a three pointer a minute into the final regulation quarter. Gabe Daniels, who had key back-to-back baskets in the third, responded with a three that gave the Panthers new life as they began to chip away at the lead. Kolton Goins had a huge three-point play and then was followed by Daniels who hit a shot from behind the arc that was part of a 10-0 run for The Gap. From there, it was back and forth the rest of the way. Drew Epperson hit a basket for the Bulldogs with 12 ticks remaining on a perfect play call and then King was true on a pair of free throws with 4.3 seconds to go in regulation. Cumberland Gap got the ball inbounds, raced down the floor and tied the game at 63-63 on Bunch’s bouncer.

“That play near the end of regulation for us is a credit to our kids as it doesn’t matter what I draw up if they don’t execute it,” Claiborne head coach Corey McGinnis said of Epperson’s big basket late in the game. “We did a really good job of executing there and made free throws late. We were trying to foul them up the sideline but it unfortunately wasn’t called and that’s part of the game. Cumberland Gap then made their big shot.”

“We were executing and were getting some turnovers,’ McGinnis said of his team’s run in the third period. “We were playing at a high level but unfortunately wasn’t able to sustain that through the fourth. We were executing the plays and that’s a credit to our kids, they were making shots.”

Goins gave the Panthers the lead for good with a three and after that, it was a matter of free throws. Cumberland Gap toed the line 16 times in overtime and despite only hitting eight of them, had enough as their defense didn’t allow Claiborne to score until Kaden Williams hit a three with 31 seconds to go and Epperson had a basket with three seconds remaining to make the final 74-68.

Goins led all scorers with 22 points for Cumberland Gap. Daniels had 15 points, Bunch’s big three pointer was part of his 12-point output and Brady Harris scored 11 points for the Panthers. King led the Bulldogs with 19 points and Williams added 16. Epperson netted 14 points and Kris Ford had 11.