Eagles get plucked
Controversial 4th quarter call kills Eagles' momentum
BY LELAND ACKER

Eagle guard J.J. Session (15) throws a leaping pass to Demarcus Skinner (4) during an earlier game against the Center Roughriders. Rusk fell to Carthage Friday, bringing their record to 8-12, 0-5. Rusk travels to Hudson Friday, before hosting Diboll at the Rusk High School Gymnasium on Jan. 22. JV games begin at 5 p.m. PHOTO: LELAND ACKER

A controversial call en route to the Rusk Eagles' 52-46 loss to Carthage, along with a freak accident in the girls JV game added up to a long night for Rusk basketball.

The controversial call came during the boys varsity game between the Rusk Eagles and the Carthage Bulldogs. With the score tied, Rusk point guard Michael Katon was dribbling the ball near the mid-court circle when the referee blew her whistle and signalled a technical foul against Katon because his shirt was untucked.

Rusk Head Coach Tracy Kincade appealed the call. After a conference between Coach Kincade, the Carthage coaching staff and the officials, Carthage was awarded the ball at mid-court. The change of possession led to a Carthage scoring run which ended with Carthage on top by six points.

Rusk had led most of the game, holding on to a 35-30 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Leading the Eagles was Horrace Lewis with 14 points and six rebounds. J.J. Session had seven rebounds, five assists and scored five points. Other scorers for the Eagles were: Demarcus Skinner (11), Quinn Anthony (6), Katon (4), Taj Cleaver and Chance Cleaver (two each). The loss drops Rusk to an 8-12 record, 0-5 in district.

JV girls earn first win The scare of the evening came in the second quarter of the JV girls' game when Rusk's Brittney Johnson took a hard fall on the court in front of the scorekeepers' table. The Rusk training staff immediately tended to Johnson, who passed out one she stood up. ETMC EMS crews were summoned who then transported her to the hospital. Johnson is expected to make a full recovery.

The Lady Eagles' JV team went on to beat Carthage 28- 26 in a game that lasted two hours and ten minutes. Jelissa Session led scoring with 11 points, followed by Samantha Hill (7), Kiera Skinner (4), Winona McGowan and Johnson (two each).

Lady Eagles surprise

Carthage

The Rusk Lady Eagles varsity team jumped ahead early in the game against the Carthage Lady Bulldogs Friday, but was unable to hold off the ferocious Carthage attack in the second half, falling 67-47.

Carthage ran a full-court defense which the Lady Eagles penetrated well, leading to a 15-13 Rusk lead with 6:15 left to play in the first half. Carthage then sank a threepointer to take a 16-15 lead. Rusk forced several turnovers in the final minutes of the first half to pull within two points, but a Lady Bulldog three-pointer at the buzzer put Carthage ahead 30-25 at halftime.

Carthage then opened the second half with two consecutive three-pointers to go ahead 36-25 and the Lady Bulldogs took control from there.

Jasmine Harris led scoring for Rusk with 24 points, followed by Cambry Blakemore (8), Brittney Session (7), Courtney Foreman (2), Christa Adams and Le'Asha O'Neal (one each).

Many of Harris' points came from the free throw line as her strategy of driving the lane and drawing the foul paid off.

The loss drops the Lady Eagles to a 6-15 record, 0-7 in district.

Boys subvarsity teams split

tilts with Carthage

The Rusk Eagles' JV team defeated Carthage 43-27. Scoring for the Eagles were: Kalen Skinner (22), Cornelius Lewis (19), Delshawn Session (9), Nicky D. Cleveland (8), Chase Anderson (4) and Matthew Davis (2).

The Freshmen lost to Carthage 68-47. Rusk scorers were: Derek Sanders (15), Harris (12), Josh Randolph (10), Montrell Session (6), Josh Skinner and Trey Thrash (two each).

Rusk falls to Crockett

The Rusk Eagles fell to the Crockett Bulldogs 74-43 during district play Jan. 8. Leading for the Rusk Eagles was J.J. Session with 12 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Scorers were: Horrace Lewis (11), Quinn Anthony (7), Michael Katon (6), Taj Cleaver (3), Demarcus Skinner (2) and Bobby McDuff (2).

The boys JV defeated Crockett 40-32, with Kalen Skinner leading the attack with 15 points, follwed by Cornelius Lewis (9), Delshawn Session (7), Matthew Davis (4), Chase Anderson and Lonnie Gipson (two each). The Freshmen lost to Crockett 68-51. Derek Sanders led scoring with 20 points, followed by Harris (10), Randolph (8), Thrash (4), Davis (4) and Session (2).

The Rusk Lady Eagles fell to Crockett 51-30. Scorers were: Jasmine Harris (15), Le'Asha O'Neal (5), Brittney Session (2), Charnell Franklin (2) and Lisa Frauenberger (1).

The girls JV lost to Crockett 57-26. The Rusk Eagles will travel to Hudson to face the Hornets Friday with JV games beginning at 5 p.m.

The Lady Eagles lost a close game to the Lady Hornets in earlier action. The boys have not played Hudson yet.

Rusk will host Diboll at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22. Boys JV and Freshmen games are played at the junior high, with girls games and boys varsity games being played at the high school.