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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

The top-10 Montevallo Bulldogs took command of first place in the area with a 52-42 win on the road at the West Blocton Tigers on Saturday, Jan. 20, which came two days after a 50-45 victory at home against the Bibb County Choctaws on Thursday, Jan. 18.

In their battle with West Blocton, the Bulldogs got off to a red-hot start from behind the arc as they made four three-pointers in the first quarter, including a pair from Javon Rogers to kick off his solid shooting performance.

Those shots helped Montevallo score 15 points in the opening period and take a 15-10 lead into the second quarter.

The Bulldogs and Tigers were evenly matched in the second quarter as each side presented a balanced attack and improved defensive effort.

Montevallo went on to win the quarter 9-8, and that increased its lead to 24-18 as the teams went into the locker room.

In the third quarter, the Bulldogs defense locked down the Tigers and only allowed a single free throw during the entirety of the period.

While Montevallo could only score six points in response, including four from Rogers to take him into double-figures, it increased the visitors’ lead to double-digits for a 30-19 advantage at the end of the third.

After a quieter third quarter, both offenses kicked into overdrive for a high-scoring finish.

The teams combined for 55 total points in the final eight minutes as Rogers and Dee Cutts scored six points apiece.

Montevallo finished the game strong from the field and from the free throw line, and it went 10-for-16 from the charity stripe to polish off the 10-point win to sweep the regular season series.

Rogers led the Bulldogs with 18 points, Cutts scored eight points and Keiston Ross and Jamarcus Thomas each had seven points.

Before that, Montevallo got revenge over Bibb County for a loss earlier in area play with a five-point win at home.

Ja’Von Chism kickstarted the Bulldogs offense with seven points in the first quarter to help his team score 14 points in the opening quarter.

Montevallo’s defense did enough to hold on to its lead and put the Bulldogs up 14-11 at the end of the first.

However, that lead would not last for long as the Choctaws defense held Montevallo to just five points in the second quarter.

Bibb County hit a pair of three-pointers in its nine-point second quarter to take a 20-19 lead into halftime.

After the break, the Choctaws remained in control on offense. Five different players found the bottom of the net as Bibb County extended its lead to three points.

Rogers scored five points to get the Bulldogs into double-digits for the quarter, and that helped them keep the contest a one-possession game going into the final quarter.

Montevallo saved its best effort for last as it dropped 21 points and only allowed 13 from the Choctaws in response.

Cutts took over in the fourth with eight points, including two three-pointers, and Chism scored seven points in the final quarter thanks to two field goals and a 3-for-3 stretch from the free throw line.

Montevallo closed the game by going 9-for-11 on free throws to seal the five-point comeback victory.

Three Bulldogs had double-digit scoring nights, including 15 from Chism, 14 from Cutts and 13 from Rogers.

Montevallo will return to action on Monday, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. with a trip to Corner before coming home to face Shelby County on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m.