They’ve petitioned for a nickname change, and “TNT” seems to fit, because Tatyana Aiken and Tacoya Heyward were dynamite Saturday afternoon.
Aiken poured in 24 points to go with four steals a day after being limited by foul trouble, and Heyward continued her steady play with 16 points to lead the host Bobcats to a 51-48 win over Carver (Ala.) in the championship game of the inaugural B-Town Classic.
Heyward was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, and Aiken joined her on the All-Tournament Team after leading the Bobcats to three solid wins to keep the trophy at home.
That’s not to say it was a two-girl show. Kayleigh Washington was tough on the boards, pulling down six rebounds, and the Bobcats played tremendous team defense down the stretch to rally from a 12-point deficit midway through the third quarter.
After leading 19-13 after one quarter, the Bobcats watched Carver’s Randrea Wright catch fire in the second quarter, as she scored 13 in the period to help the Rams claim a 33-28 halftime lead. Carver extended the margin to 41-29 and held off Bluffton’s initial charge to take a seven-point lead to the fourth quarter.
“When she was shooting those 3s, they were using screens, and I had to figure out how to go over or get under the screen in time so I could get to the ball,” Heyward said. “It was real hard because No. 11 and No. 12 were setting big screens, and I’m not that big, so I had to go and work around them.”
The Bobcats made the adjustment, and they made the Rams pay with their defensive pressure. Bluffton steals and Carver turnovers repeatedly led to easy baskets or trips to the foul line, where the Bobcats were 12-for-21. Heyward hit two free throws to get the Bobcats within three, added a steal and layup to cut it to one, then threw an outlet to Aiken for a layup to pull Bluffton even at 47.
And then she gave the Bobcats the lead, hanging in the air and making a circus shot while being fouled with 1:40 left. Even she admits she didn’t think it was going in, but it was in that moment that Aiken knew the Bobcats were going to win.
“It hyped everybody up,” Aiken said. “It even hyped the crowd up and gave us momentum.”
The Bobcats led the rest of the way, outscoring the Rams 12-2 in the fourth quarter.
“We just did everything we’re supposed to do, did what we do in practice,” Heyward said, “and that helped us win this game.”
UP NEXT
Blluffton (11-1) hosts Battery Creek at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Recap and photos by Justin Jarrett
