By Stephen Dawkins

THORSBY – Thorsby’s boys basketball team on Friday won its season opener in dramatic fashion over Verbena, 71-68.
The teams traded the lead the whole game, but the Rebels owned the last 2 minutes of play.
“For our first game, it was about what I expected,” Thorsby coach Corey Clements said. “Verbena is very much improved. We were fortunate to win the game.”
What turned out to be the game-winning shot came with 1:08 remaining, as Thorsby’s Andrew Farris corralled a loose ball then rose above the defense about 10 feet from the goal and sank the shot to make it 68-66.
The teams traded free throws down the stretch, with two foul shots made by Thorsby’s Nathan Oldroyd with 8.4 seconds to go producing the final score.
Verbena still had a chance, but Brad Boswell’s heave the length of floor as time expired was off the mark.
The Red Devils (1-2) had already played two games before the contest with Thorsby, and it showed at the beginning of the game. Verbena raced to a 10-1 lead until Farris hit a 3-pointer with less than two minutes to go in the first period.
Thorsby in the second quarter found its offensive rhythm with the help of a full-court press defense and took its first lead, 14-12, with two free throws by Jace Maddox.
The lead change was part of a 19-2 run by Thorsby that gave the hosts a 20-12 lead when Blake Elkins banked in a shot at the 5:30 mark in the second quarter.
But then Verbena’s Christian Coston made two consecutive 3-pointers, and Jason Ray’s rebound and putback tied the game at 20.
Verbena led 30-24 at halftime.
The game became somewhat sloppy and physical toward the end of the third quarter, and Thorsby led 46-45.
Boswell connected from behind the 3-point arc out of a timeout at the 7:20 mark in the fourth quarter to give the visitors a lead they would hold until Farris’ jumper.
Thorsby’s Evan Bryan led all scorers with 28 points, and Farris had 18 points and nine rebounds.
Marcus Bray had a team-high 11 rebounds.
“Jace Maddox and Nathan Oldroyd really helped us coming off the bench, with Andrew and Marcus getting in foul trouble,” Clements said.
Oldroyd scored eight points.
Boswell and Brandon White both had 17 points for the Red Devils.

Thorsby girls win with smothering defense
In the girls game, Thorsby’s Sharonda Cooper scored 33 points to lead the hosts to a 63-22 win over Verbena.
The Rebels are now a perfect 3-0 on the season.
Verbena falls to 0-3.
A stifling Thorsby defense created many turnovers and helped the team build a 37-7 halftime lead that would never be threatened.
Marqueska Deramus had nine points for Verbena. No other Devil had more than three points.