I picked MoCo over Atown in the preview thread. Only game I picked wrong.

Can we revisit the preseason threads questioning the hire of Coach Biggs?

 

And the "Pig is transferring" thread and the "poisoned pen letter" that was such a big hit a few weeks ago?

Just after the final buzzer.

A-town trophy presentation:

Mason County celebrates:

And finally, long-time buddy Darren Williams with a few of the Royal faithful.

As a member of this program and basketball team in the past couple of years I couldn't be any prouder of this group for finding a way to get Mason county back to RUPP! #TNG

Long story short - Augusta's tank finally ran dry.

 

Panthers score the game's first 6 points as the Royals looked skittish. A Sweeney 3 finally broke the ice. Game was back and forth until the Royals managed something like a 36-28 lead. Augusta made its final push. scoring 11 straight on three bombs (two from Maddox) and a pair of free throws from Crawford. This time Augusta couldn't keep the lead as Mason County FINALLY started getting more than its share of the 50-50 balls. As was the case all tournament, Pig Williams was clutch.

 

As I told a BUNCH of Augusta fans and friends, I was pulling for the Royals but would have been almost as happy had the Panthers gotten the W.

Where are those MC fans that wanted to fire Biggs now?

 

Seems like a good coach to me.

Virtually EVERY Panther fan I spoke to after the game was gracious in defeat. Didn't matter if the surname was Bach, Kelsch or McCane.

Great run by the Augusta Panthers!! I really feel for those guys tonight.

 

To come so close - what, up 3 mid-third (?) - and see it slip away must be agonizing. Destiny denied!

 

Mason County played a whale of a game tonight. I was quite impressed with their defense, which really limited an Augusta team that had owned MoCo just 24 hours previously. They are deserving winners. Good luck to Buddy Biggs and his Royals next week at Rupp.

And let me PLEASE say something about Cam Snapp. Kid wrecks his knee last mid-season. Comes back and nearly wills the (seemingly) undermanned Panther squad to the promised land. I told him after the game that I enjoyed watching him over the past few seasons.

 

The young man was and is a class act.

Mason--A. Williams-20, Lofton 2, Dunaway 8, D. Williams-9, Sweeney 7, Garrison 2.

 

Augusta--Crawford 10, Staggs 3, Maddox 14, Snapp 7, Shoemaker 7.

And how big did Levi Dunaway play tonight? Kid had a major impact on the game.

A huge amount of credit for the Royals victory tonight goes to 3 people:

Levi Dunaway(offense from out of the blue)

Pig( defense and denial when guarding Maddox)

Coach Biggs(as has been stated many times, returned only 1 player with many varsity minutes coming into season and everyone on BGP knows about the pre-season drama SUPPOSEDLY with Pig transferring, parents mad, uncles mad,etc,etc.).

Both teams seemed to have left a lot on the floor last night, not a crisp game by either.

Great job of hosting by Montgomery County staff, from getting in and getting out, to concessions(nice to have adults working it) to national anthem, half time,etc.

Everything first class all the way, love the area, the facilities that they have there for the other sports,etc.

Hope it is back there when it is due