In what goes down as an instant classic, the Dawson County Tigers (6-6) won a 92-81 double overtime game on Tuesday night against host Banks County in the Jingle Jam Classic.

The game was an offensive showcase in which seven different players reached double figures, and a total of 14 3-pointers were made.

The opening quarter saw Banks County’s Macade Huff go off for 11 points, while Dawson’s Brody Sorensen countered with six as the Leopards led 21-18.

Jack Ledbetter had a huge second quarter, as did Landon Lee. The latter had a 3-point play to pull within one. The Leopards’ Gavin Barker hit a couple of deep shots as well, with Banks holding a 41-35 halftime lead. Huff had 14 points by the break, while Lee had 10 for Dawson.

Huff picked up where he left off with the first eight Banks County points in the third, but a hot-handed Tigers team remained tight on a splash from downtown by Sorensen. Entering the fourth frame, Banks County was up 56-52.

The Leopards (7-6) were never quite putting the game out of reach, but they appeared to be in control late before a surge by the Tigers. Both teams got off a final heave at the end of the fourth but came up empty with a 75-75 score.

That fourth quarter was intense, as Dawson got triples from Corbin Cantrell and Landon Lee, while Banks County had a 3-point play by Caden Watson.

Suddenly, momentum shifted when Mason Harvey grabbed a steal and a layup, and Cantrell added a fast break lay-in for a 69-66 Dawson lead. Huff had a putback with 1:10 on the clock to push the Leopards back up 73-72. Not to be outdone, Harvey had a layup for a 74-73 lead with 49 seconds left. Both teams reached 75 before final tries before regulation was out.

One overtime wasn’t enough to determine a winner. The teams scored four points apiece in the initial 4-minute extra period. Barker momentarily had the Leopards ahead on a clutch 3-pointer with 28 seconds left, but Dawson nailed a free throw to force a second OT.

Banks County ran out of gas, as Dawson outscored the Leopards 13-2 in the final extra period, highlighted by Cantrell’s dramatic 3-point play that put the game on ice.

Dawson was led in scoring by Cantrell’s 23 points (12 in the 2nd half) which included four 3-pointers. Lee had 19, Ledbetter had 16, Sorensen 15, and Cayson Chester 13. Harvey had four and Colton Graham added two.

For Banks County, Huff had a game-high 28 points, followed by Dayden Rogers’ 18, and nine apiece for Griffin Hill and Barker. Aidan Beasley and Caden Watson each had seven, while Brayden Knight finished with two.

---