MADISON- It has been a tough season for both the boys and girls basketball teams at Bob Jones but both squads closed the regular season with wins on Thursday night.

The boys team got a last second shot by Demontrez Brown to edge Columbia 43-41. They trailed 27-16 at halftime.

Head Coach Luther Tiggs rolled out a starting lineup of Trey Graham, Arrington Langford, Kyan Brown, Jaylon Merritt, and Brown, all seniors. The other two seniors on the team are Chase Fiddler and Mike Brown who both saw action also.

“We’re proud of these young men,” Tiggs said. “It’s a special occasion for all these seniors to be recognized with your family for your accomplishments. They have done everything we asked them to do on and off the court. They represented Bob Jones and their community well.

We are not doing well record-wise but we are starting to play better so tonight we sent them out with a win in their final game and that felt good.”

Demontrez Brown has been with the program every year since Tiggs took over. He will sign a football scholarship on National Signing Day Feb. 7. Chase Fiddler also have been in the program all four years at Bob Jones and he has signed to continue playing basketball at UAH. Fiddler went over the 1,000 point mark for his career at Bob Jones on Jan. 26. In a game against Madison Academy.

Kyan Brown and Jaylon Merritt worked their way back on the team this season and have both “have proved they were worthy of being on the team, it is a credit to them and the hard work they put in,” Tiggs said.

Mike Brown transferred from Athens this year.

The team was counting on Trey Graham for a big season but he tore ligaments in his thumb early on and it hampered him all season. He is just now getting his touch back and it is reason for optimism as Bob Jones sill face Sparkman in the opening round of the are tournament Thursday, Feb. 8.

“Arrington has been in the program the last two years and has played a lot this year,” Tiggs said. “He has a high basketball IQ and understands our system. Like all these young men he is a quality person will do great things once he leaves the program.”

The girl’s team under coach Andre Reynolds got a 52-46 win over Columbia for their second win of the season, both over Columbia.

Myra Wallace hit a three then two free throws to seal the win. Wallace is a senior along with Kiara Turner, Kaelin Steels, and Faith Clader.

The girls team will face Sparkman to open the area tournament Tuesday night at Sparkman.