UNIONVILLE - The Community Vikings committed crucial turnovers and missed rebounds on the defensive end that spoiled an eight-point fourth-quarter lead and the Marshall County Tigers responded with the game-winning field goal with three seconds left as the Vikings lost 71-70 in the District 12-AA opener Tuesday night.

The lead changed hands 17 times in the game.

Evan Petrie scored six points and Will Reed added five as Community (7-8, 0-1) traded the lead with the Tigers five times in the opening quarter.

The game was tied 18-18 heading to the second quarter.

It was a seesaw affair in the quarter as the lead changed hands seven more times.

Five Vikings scored as Community took a 33-31 lead into halftime.

Stratton Lovvorn connected for 10 points as the Vikings led for all of the third quarter. Community took its biggest lead at 40-31 and ended the quarter with a 56-48 advantage.

Viking turnovers would come into play as the Tigers scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to narrow the Community lead. Marshall County took its first lead since the second quarter at 65-63 with 3:16 left in the game.

Jackson Bailey scored the final nine Viking points, including a field goal with 14 seconds left to put Community up 70-69.

The Tigers responded as Devonte Davis connected on a field goal in front of the basket with three seconds left to put Marshall County up 71-70.

The Vikings had one last chance, but a long pass was intercepted by the Tigers as the game ended.

Davis had 16 points to lead four Tiger players in double figures.

Lovvorn had 18 points as four Vikings reached double digits.

Bailey netted 17 points while Petrie added 16.

Reed had 14 points for Community.

The Vikings were 9-of-12 at the free throw line while Marshall County was 4-of-8.

"Turnovers were unfortunate, but where we lost this game was defensive rebounds," Coach Robbie Davis of the Vikings said.

"We rebounded poorly. Probably a third or half of their points came on second-chance points."

"When you give good teams three or four shots, they're eventually going to make them," Davis added.

"They were physical tonight, they got into us, and we didn't return it. Our lack of physical intensity on defense was very telling," Davis said.

Community travels to Forrest for a District 12-AA contest Friday night.

Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Marshall Co. 18 13 17 23 - 71

Community 18 15 23 14 - 70

Marshall Co.: Omarion Alred 13, Kaamil Hazel 13, Silas Hurt 12, Jayden Hart 8, Bryson Hughes 7, Devonte Davis 16, Jaamil Hazel 2, Carson Boyd.

Community: Stratton Lovvorn 18, Jackson Bailey 17, Evan Petrie 16, Will Reed 14, Jacob Cooper, Maki Fleming 3, Emery Smith 2, Corey Paterick, Noah Newkirk.

3-Point goals: Marshall Co. (7): K. Hazel 3, Davis 2, Hughes, Alred; Community (9): Lovvorn 4, Reed 4, Fleming.

Halftime score: Community 33, Marshall Co. 31.