Brookwood, Bibb County Play To Lowest-Scoring Basketball Game in 38 Years

When Brandon Rutledge scored on the opening possession of his varsity boys basketball game last Saturday, the basket proved to be more than just the first points of the game. As it turned out, they were the only points of the game.

Final score: Bibb County 2, Brookwood 0.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations’ record book, the 2-0 final was the lowest-scoring game in the United States since Durham Hillside (N.C.) beat Roxboro Person (N.C.) by the same score on Feb. 1, 1977 – almost 38 years earlier to the day.

It’s the fifth time ever a game has finished 2-0 and the first time in Alabama, making it the lowest-scoring game in the state’s history according to AHSFHS.org. (The Alabama High School Athletic Association does not keep track of the record to confirm.) Three games nationally have ended in 1-0 results.

In a text message sent to Tide 991.com, Bibb County coach Russ Wallace explained how the unusual final score came to be:

“We scored on first possession. (Brookwood coach Thad Fitzpatrick) went four corners (on offense) to pull us out of our zone defense. We had the lead, so I stayed back. He ran the rest of the half out. We got the ball back the start of the third quarter. I decided to do the same because I knew he would when he got the ball. It guaranteed us last shot of the third. He stalled all of the fourth quarter. We made them turn it over with seven seconds left. Game.”

At least one Bibb County player was in disbelief over the result.

It was the last regular-season game of the season for both teams, which begin their area tournaments later this week. Brookwood defeated Bibb County, 40-36, in the schools’ first meeting this season on Nov. 20 in Centreville.

Bibb County (22-9), which has shown signs of a renaissance in three seasons under Wallace, will host Northside on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the AHSAA Class 4A, Area 6 tournament.

Brookwood (19-9) faces Northridge in the Class 6A, Area 4 tournament at Bessemer City on Thursday.