By Neal Embry/For the Reporter

VINCENT – The Vincent Yellow Jackets lost their first game of the season at home Friday night to the Childersburg Tigers, 42-41.

The Jackets battled the Tigers back and forth, but late free throws sealed the win for Childersburg, which moves to 6-4 on the season.

Both teams struggled to score early, with only 29 combined points at halftime.  Vincent held a one-point advantage going into the break.

E.J. Datcher made his presence felt on defense, contributing seven blocked shots for the Yellow Jackets, along with seven points and 12 rebounds.

The teams continued to go back and forth in the third quarter, which ended in a 28-28 tie.

As the fourth quarter started in a standing-room only Vincent High School gym, the Tigers stepped up their pace, led by Kel Mitchell, who scored all six of his points in the fourth quarter.

With just under three minutes left, the Tigers were up 39-32.  The Jackets’ Roderick Brown scored and drew a foul, cutting the lead to four.  A minute later, Datcher made one of two free throws, and after the rebound went out on Childersburg, Datcher cut the lead to one on a layup.

As the Tigers advanced the ball down the court, Datcher went to block the shot, but was called for a foul.  The Tigers made three of their last four free throws, making the difference in the one point victory.

“We made too many mistakes.  Ultimately, they ended up having more shots and we couldn’t keep them off the offensive boards,” Vincent coach John Hadder said.  “We’ll keep working to get better.”

Vincent drops to 8-1, while Childersburg moves to 5-4.  Vincent plays Thorsby in the first round of the Shelby County Tournament Dec. 12, while Childersburg hosts B.B. Comer Dec. 13.