Eagle basketball teams fare well
Boys hang with Jacksonville, beat Grace, girls pick up early wins
BY LELAND ACKER

Despite a nine point loss to the Jacksonville Indians, Eagle Head Basketball Coach Tracy Kincade says he's pleased with the efforts of his players.

"I was pleased with the team effort and how hard they played," he said. "We lost to a good 4A team."

Jacksonville jumped ahead early, then held off the Feathered Flock for a 72-63 win over the Eagles on Nov. 20. Turnovers and missed free-throws doomed the Eagles, as they gave away the ball 22 times and missed 14 free throws.

J.J. Session was the lead scorer with 19 points, followed by Michael Katon (14) and Horrace Lewis (11).

The JV beat Jacksonville 43- 27, with Cornelius Lewis leading the scoring with 17 points, followed by Tony Teague (12) and Delshawn Session (8). The freshmen team lost to Jacksonville 32-61. Derek Sanders led the scoring for Rusk with 19 points.

Rusk opened the season with a 66-61 win over Grace Community School of Tyler on Nov. 19. The Eagles trailed in the game until making a comeback with 1:30 left to play in the 4th quarter.

"It was a good win for us," Coach Kincade said. "The schedule was set up to test us and get us ready for a brutal district. It was a great team win."

Session led the scoring for Rusk with 18 points and eight rebounds. Demarcus Skinner followed with 14 points, followed by Lewis (10) and John David Beard (9).

The Rusk Lady Eagles advanced to a 5-2 record after slipping by the Alto Lady Jackets 62-47 on Nov. 27. Alto pulled within two points at half time, but Rusk went on a scoring streak in the second half to win the game by 15. Jasmine Harris led the scoring for Rusk with 15 points, followed by Brittney Session (12), Charnell Franklin (9) and Cambry Blakemore (9).

The JV fell to a 5-3 record after falling to Alto 37-26. Winona McGowan led the scoring with nine points, followed by Lisa Frauenberger (5) and Samantha Hill (5).

Charnell Franklin led the Lady Eagles with nine points as Rusk fell to Tatum 52-30 on Nov. 15. Harris and Blakemore followed with six points each, Blakemore sinking a threepointer in the first quarter. The squad then fell to Spring Hill 58-46 on Nov. 16, with Harris leading the scoring with 15 points, and Blakemore and Le'Asha O'Neal adding 11 each.

The boys return home to face Winona on Dec. 11, with the JV game scheduled for 5 p.m. The varsity game will follow. The girls will open district play against Pollock Central at 5 p.m. Dec. 11 in Rusk.