By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Writer

ALABASTER — For the first few minutes of the Nov. 12 matchup between the Thompson Warriors and Shelby County Wildcats boys basketball squads, it appeared the two teams were headed for a shootout.

It was not to be however, as the Warriors took a 57-42 win over the Wildcats.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with Shelby County taking an early 4-2 lead. Both squads played aggressive defense, keeping scoring to a minimum as the Warriors took a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Thompson began to pull ahead in the second, as nine points from Rashad Strother helped the Warriors head into the half with a 27-14 lead.

Following the intermission, Shelby County opened the second half by going on a 9-4 run to cut the lead to 31-27.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, it was as close as they would get to the lead. A 7-3 Thompson run followed, and the Warriors carried the momentum along with a 40-30 lead into the fourth quarter.

Thompson opened the final period with a 6-0 run, setting the tone for the rest of the contest. The Warriors led by double digits the entire quarter, taking a 57-42 win.

Strother paced the Warriros with 27 points, while Blake Lewis scored 12 and Zach Canes had 11. Emmanuel Hall led Shelby County with 15 points, while Justus Martin had 10 and Brandon Green posted seven points.

Thompson will travel to Bessemer City on Nov. 19, while SCHS will host Pelham Nov. 14.