**Vinemont Stuns Fairview 57-45 in Cullman County Tournament Upset**
*HANCEVILLE, Ala.* — In an exciting first-round matchup of the Cullman County Tournament varsity boys bracket on Tuesday evening, the No. 3 seeded Fairview Aggies faced off against a determined No. 6 Vinemont Eagles squad. Thanks to a dominant third-quarter run fueled by sharp cross-court passing and exploited defensive lapses, Vinemont pulled off a 57-45 upset over Fairview.
The Eagles will now advance to the semifinals, where they await the winner of tonight’s No. 2 West Point versus No. 7 Hanceville matchup.
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### A Tightly Contested Start
The game opened with a fast-paced, back-and-forth first quarter as Vinemont showed they were more than ready to challenge a higher-seeded opponent. The Eagles’ ball movement looked especially effective early on, with backdoor cuts leading to easy baskets. Despite this, Fairview answered with timely three-pointers from Ty Babb and Cai Collins to keep the Aggies competitive.
Fairview’s shooters remained hot throughout the quarter, but Vinemont’s consistent passing kept them in the game. Bryson Bush, one of the most tenacious guards in the county, demonstrated why he is the heart of the Eagles’ offense. While scoring isn’t always his primary contribution, Bush’s playmaking stood out — cutting into the paint, delivering crafty behind-the-back passes, or pulling up for an open shot when available. The first quarter ended with Vinemont narrowly trailing 13-12.
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### Intensity Builds in the Second Quarter
Early in the second quarter, Bush showcased his defensive prowess by intercepting a pass and converting it into a layup for Vinemont. On offense, Fairview continued their sharp shooting, with Collins hitting a three-pointer and Babb drilling a jumper from the elbow. Both teams went shot for shot, maintaining a tight contest.
Vinemont led 25-22 at halftime, helped by Bush’s three consecutive successful free throws after being fouled on a corner three attempt.
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### Third Quarter Surge Seals the Deal
The third quarter proved pivotal as Vinemont turned up the defensive pressure, deploying a hard press that frequently forced turnovers. While this aggressive defense occasionally left Fairview’s Sam Marsh open under the basket, the Eagles capitalized on the steals to fuel a 17-5 scoring run during this period.
Marsh’s clutch shooting — including multiple three-pointers — combined with Bush’s continued leadership pushed Vinemont into a commanding 39-27 lead entering the fourth quarter. Though Collins scored all five of Fairview’s third-quarter points to try and keep them in it, the Aggies struggled with a noticeable lack of secondary scoring.
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### Closing Moments and Final Push
The fourth quarter began with another highlight-reel play from Bush, who intercepted a pass and launched a hook pass nearly half the length of the court to an open Marsh. Marsh sank his fifth and final three-pointer of the game, delivering a devastating blow to Fairview’s comeback hopes.
Despite this, the Aggies regrouped and showed resilience. Babb took charge offensively, aggressively attacking semi-open looks and scoring 10 crucial points in the final frame to keep Fairview within striking distance.
However, Vinemont’s EJ Sharpe and Marsh closed out the game with clutch performances to secure the 57-45 victory and the upset win.
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### Standout Performances
For Vinemont, Sam Marsh led all scorers with 21 points, adding six rebounds and a steal. Bryson Bush contributed across the board — scoring nine points, grabbing three rebounds, dishing out two assists, and blocking a shot.
Fairview’s Ty Babb led their effort with 16 points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Cai Collins also chipped in with 14 points, three rebounds, two steals, and a block.
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With this impressive win, Vinemont advances to the Cullman County Tournament semifinals and will face either West Point or Hanceville in their next contest. Fans can look forward to more thrilling basketball action as the tournament progresses.
https://www.cullmantribune.com/2026/01/20/county-tournament-slick-passing-marshs-shooting-the-difference-in-no-6-vinemonts-upset-of-no-3-fairview/
