By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

CHELSEA ��� After dropping the first game of the North Shelby Tip-Off Classic, and subsequently the first game of the young season, to Auburn on Nov. 23, the Thompson Warriors bounced back to win their final two games of the tournament to claim the fifth place slot.

After losing the first game, Thompson bounced back to beat a good Southside-Gadsden team handily by a final of 61-40. Both teams got off to a slow start in the first quarter, as the score was tied 5-5 after one, before Thompson found its footing offensively. The Warriors, led by Drew Thomas and Michael Freeman, scored 43 points over the next two quarters while holding the Panthers to 17 points in the same span to take an insurmountable 48-22 lead heading into the fourth.

Thomas had 14 to lead Thompson while Freeman had 10 in the second game of the tournament for the Warriors.

Helena, which had lost to Chelsea in its first game of the tournament, beat Tuscaloosa County in its second game to create a county-vs-county matchup for the fifth-place spot. Helena grabbed the lead early in the game, and took an early 17-12 lead after the first quarter. The Warriors bounced back in the second quarter and the game was tied heading into the half at 30-30.

After tying the game at 30 apiece, both teams traded baskets in the third, and the game was still tied at 46 apiece heading into the final quarter of play. In the fourth, Thomas went a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe as the Warriors went 17-for-18 overall in the quarter to take the game 75-62. The 29 points Thompson put up in the fourth quarter were the most of any quarter of the tournament for the Warriors.

Thomas led the way with 17 points and five rebounds while Freeman contributed a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards, and Demonte Caffey contributed 15 points as well.

Helena had four players in double figures, and was led by Jon Brown who had 14. Jaylen Harris had 13 points while Paul Brown and Justin Stuckey both had 11.