By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

VINCENT – Stephen Campbell went 11-for-13 from the free throw line in the final quarter of play for the Yellow Jackets on Jan. 21 in a home game against area opponent Thorsby to help keep Vincent perfect in area play with a 55-45 win. The 2A No. 1 Yellow Jackets advanced to 19-4 (4-0) to finish the regular season undefeated in area play.

Although Vincent eventually won by 10, the game was tight at first. Thorsby hit three triples in the first quarter courtesy of Brock Higgins, Gray Bice and Christian Fortner. EJ Datcher added six points of his own in the first quarter to pace the Yellow Jackets, and the game was tied 11-11 after the first period.

Thorsby cooled off considerably in the second quarter, and only amassed five total points. Vincent on the other hand kept up its first quarter pace, scoring 11 more points behind a balanced offensive barrage from Wesley King, Zavien Kelley, Campbell and Datcher. Vincent led 22-16 after the break, and only increased its lead from that point on.

The Rebels bounced back in the second half to score 29 points total, but Vincent kept pace with Thorsby, slightly outscoring the visiting team in each of the final two periods. Four more points from Datcher and Campbell each in the third quarter helped push the Yellow Jacket lead to 35-26 after three before Campbell sealed the deal in the final period.

Higgins did what he could to keep Thorsby in the game late, as he hit three more three-pointers in the final period and had 10 points in the fourth, but Vincent went a combined 16-for-20 from the charity stripe in the final quarter to secure the win. For the game the Yellow Jackets were 22-for-30 from the line, good for a 73 percent clip.

Campbell and Higgins led all scorers with 19 apiece. Datcher finished with another double-double, going for 14 points and 11 boards, while Terrell Calhoun finished with nine points, 10 rebounds and five steals to help lead the top-ranked Yellow Jackets.