Area basketball roundup

Lady Hornets fall to Lady Trojans

The New Summerfield Lady Hornets lost to Trinidad Tuesday, Dec. 3, by a score of 44-24.

The team kept pace with Trinidad, ending the first quarter just two points behind, 10-8.

New Summerfield allowed the Trojans to outrun them in the second period, 17-6 for a 27-14 halftime advantage.

Neither team added many points in the third quarter although Trinidad took an 8-3 advantage in the period.

The final frame belonged to Trinidad who outshot New Summerfield 14-2 for the win.

Leading scorer for the Lady Hornets was Karlee Andrade with 11 points. She also brought down five rebounds and earned two steals. Nijah Lee added five points, recorded 10 rebounds and two steals.

The team participated in Longview CHS Classic Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 5-7, earning a third-place trophy for their efforts.

The Lady Hornets were to visit Athens Prep Tuesday, Dec. 10, and will play in the Mount Enterprise Michael Nix Classic Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 12-14.

Lady Eagles go 2-2 at tournament

The Rusk Lady Eagles opened the Athens Invitational with a win over the Liberty-Eylau Leopards, 67-60.

Renaiya Kennedy led Rusk in scoring, sinking 20 points. She also recorded six assists and four rebounds.

The team made 52 percent of free throws and 45 percent of three-point attempts.

The team faced Jacksonville, dropping the game 34-43. Jamyah Anderson topped the Lady Eagle scorers with 10 points.

She secured 10 rebounds and posted six blocks.

The team went 46 percent at the charity stripe and 40 percent on three-point shots.

Going up against the Bullard Lady Panthers, Rusk lost 61-53.

The team’s leading scorer was Nay Jefferson with 22 points.

The final game was a win by forfeit over Texas City.

The Lady Eagles now hold a 6-5 overall record.

Rusk was to play on the road at Center Tuesday, Dec. 10, and will participate in the Brownsboro Tournament Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 12-14.

Lady Panthers top Timpson Bears

It took four overtime periods, but the Bullard Lady Panthers prevailed over the Timpson Bears by a score of 54-48.

Leading scorer for the Panthers was Haley Day who sank 24 points.

Keili Richmond put up 10 points.

Erin Berry and Haley Minton each dropped in nine points.

Lamaria Thompson added two points.

The Lady Panthers brought down more rebounds with 31 compared to Timpson’s 22 boards. Bullard also garnered 12 assists, one more than the Lady Bears.

Bullard’s field goal percentage was 51 percent compared to Timpson’s 27 percent.

Both teams shot 68 percent from the charity stripe.

Timpson had a better three-point shot percentage over Bullard, 25-20 percent.

The Lady Panthers carried an 11-1 record going into the Athens Tournament Thursday, Dec. 5.

The team was to travel to Alba-Golden Tuesday, Dec. 10, and will participate in the Brownsboro tournament Thursday and Saturday, Dec. 12 and 14.

Alto drops opener

Alto lost to Pineywoods Community Academy Timberwolves, 67-34, in their season opener.

Top scorer for the Yellowjackets was Keithen Jenkins with nine points, followed by Jay Pope who put up eight.

Kevin Blanton dropped in six points and Kurrin Sai Jackson sank five.

Skyler Atkins, Tra’Rell Dansby and Jackson Duplichain added two points apiece.

Frankston was the first opponent Alto faced in pool play in the Slocum tournament.

The Jackets defeated the Indians by a single point, 35-34, Thursday, Dec. 5.

Pope was leading scorer for the Jackets with 14 points, followed by Atkins with 12 points.

Jackson, Jenkins, Duplichain and Kevin Blanton dropped in two points apiece.

Dansby added one point.

The team beat the Iola Bulldogs 57-44 before entering bracket play where they fell to the Slocum Mustangs, 76-36, and the Marshal; Christian Academy Guardians, 48-44.

Atkins was top scorer against Iola, sinking 24 points. Jackson dropped in 11 points.

Blanton added seven; Dansby, five; Pope, four. Israel Salinas, Duplichain and Jenkins put up two points each.

The team was set to visit Beckville Tuesday, Dec. 10, and will participate in the Gary Tournament beginning Thursday, Dec. 12.

Jacksonville downed by two in overtime play

The Jacksonville Indians opened the Athens Tournament against LaPoynor, dropping the game in overtime by a mere two points, 56-54.

Head coach Mark Alexander reported the team was down by 12 points at the half, and as much as 14 during the game.

Leading scorers for Jacksonville were Keion Redd, with 14 points and Desmond Fuller who sank 11 points.
“We had a shot at the end of regulation to win it, but it didn’t fall,” Alexander stated. “[I am] super proud of our kids’ efforts.”

Jacksonville defeated the Westwood Panthers at the tournament, 67-62.

Down by six points at the halftime break, 30-24, the Indians came back in the second half to outscore the Panthers in both the third and final quarters to overtake Westwood and win the game.

The Indians were slated to host the Bullard Panthers Tuesday, Dec. 10, and will participate in the Central Heights Tournament Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 12-14.

Rusk is tournament runner-up

Rusk dropped the opening game of the Tommy Hill Classic to the Brook Hill Guard by only two points, 44-42.

The second game was against Big Sandy which resulted in another close finish and loss, 58-53.

Leading scorer against the Wildcats was Jay’kwon Simms with 24 points. Isiah Ward put up 17 points with Travion Harris and Terick Foreman adding five points each.

The team brought down 19 rebounds, posted 10 assists and recorded 13 steals and one block. The Eagles sank 34 percent of field goal attempts, 33 percent of three-point shots and were 50 percent from the charity stripe.

The Eagles earned a victory of Pineywoods Academy, 68-45. Harris led the scoring, sinking 21 points. He also recorded eight rebounds. Simms dropped in 19 points and stole the ball four times. J.D. Thompson posted nine points and five steals.

Rusk was scheduled to visit Slocum Tuesday, Dec. 10, and will participate in the Eustace Tournament Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 12-14.

Troup earns win over Beckville

The Troup Tigers are now four games into the basketball season and remain undefeated following their trip to Beckville Friday, Dec. 6.

The Tigers had a 31-22 lead over the Bearcats at the half. Although Beckville outscored Troup in the third quarter, 18-13, they never overtook the Tigers who held on for the win.

Bracey Cover was lead scorer for Troup with 17 points in the game, including a three-point shot. Kedrick Frazier dropped in 11 points, including two treys. Matthew Castillo, who also put up two three-pointers, added 10 points to the team total. Grayson Driggs sank a trey and a total of seven points. Logan Womack hit two three-point shots for six points. Blake Wood added four points and Clayton Vickers, two.

The men’s junior varsity also defeated the Beckville Bearcats, 24-12

The Tigers varsity were to host Overton Tuesday, Dec. 10, and will play in the Frankston Tournament Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 12-14.

The JV will participate in the New Summerfield JV Tournament Saturday, Dec. 14.