The homecoming of former star player and head coach Ryan Bond back to Weston High highlighted the local prep basketball scene last week that was limited due to COVID outbreaks at several schools either in the area or at the ones scheduled to be played. Limited play continues this week with just three tilts slated at present. Given the current conditions it is recommended t to verify with the schools to see if the games scheduled will still be played:
This week’s schedule (December 17th – 22nd)
Thursday, December 17th: Weston at Calvin (B&G) – 5:00 pm; Quitman at Summerfield (B&G) – 6:00 pm
Friday, December 18th: Quitman at Cedar Creek (B&G) – 6:00 pm
Results from last week: (December 8th – 15th)
Ruston 70 Weston 38 (boys) For the first time since becoming head coach at Ruston High Ryan Bond returned home to lead his Class 5A Bearcats to a resounding victory over his alma mater. The Wolves hung tough early on until a 29-5 second quarter blitz by Ruston blew things open.
Jace Holt, who finished with 15 on the night, drained a pair of three’s and scored all ten of the Wolves first quarter points to keep Weston within two after the first quarter but Ruston went on a 29-5 run in the second to blow things open. All thirteen players on the Bearcat roster scored led by 15 from Jay Lillard as Ruston continued one of their best opening season stretches in many years by winning their sixth straight without a loss. Jonesboro native Rollin Belton added eight.
WHS 10 5 7 8 – 30
RHS 12 29 21 16 – 78
WHS scoring: Holt 15, Mathews 4, Stewart 4, Roberts 2, McBride 2, Theriot 2, Shirley 1
RHS scoring: Lillard 15, Dean 10, Chatman 10, Belton 8, Scott 6, Jones 5, McNeal 5, Wilson 4, Pilgreen 4, Thomas 4, Brewster 3, Dimmer 2, Dobbins 2
Ruston 65 Weston 44 (girls) After three quarters of play the Lady Wolves were leading 43-41 but a 24-1 blitz by the Lady Bearcats in the final frame led to the lopsided loss. A pair of trey’s in the second by Emma Kate McBride and two more in the third by Lakerria Austin as well as 11 points by Mallory Tolar and 15 of Briley Peterson’s 16 points on the night had Weston in prime shape to upset the Class 5A school after three periods but Weston managed only one free throw in the final quarter as foul trouble set in.
WHS 14 18 11 1 – 44
RHS 19 12 10 24 – 65
WHS scoring: Peterson 16, Tolar 11, Austin 10, McBride 6, Barmore 1
RHS scoring: J. McWain 18, Hintee 12, Spencer 6, Jackson 4, McCallister 4, K. McWain 3, Evans 2
Weston 50 Atlanta 40 (boys) Jace Holt scored all of Weston’s points in the first quarter for the second consecutive game and the Wolves raced out to a 30-11 halftime lead that held up. Holt scored 12 of his game high 28 in the initial frame and Braden Theriot scored all six of his points in the second to pace the Wolves to the big bulge at the break. Davis Tolar chipped in with 9, Eli McBride added four, Kaden Shirley two and Cooper Harvey one to round out the scoring.
The victory ended a three game slide and improved the Wolves record to 5-9 on the season. Atlanta dropped their second in a row after having their first five games of the season cancelled due to an outbreak of COVID at the school.
WHS (5-9) 12 18 11 9 – 50
AHS (0-2) 3 8 14 15 – 40
WHS scoring: Holt 28, Tolar 9, Theriot 6, McBride 4, Shirley 2, Harvey 1
AHS scoring: Nash 18, Watkin 8, Jenkins 7, Sykes 7
Weston 55 Atlanta (girls) 42 Briley Peterson’s nine points in the second quarter led the way to a team high22 points and Lauren Maxwell added 13 on the strength of a season best three, 3-pointers to pave the way as Weston continued their roller coaster ride of winning after a loss. Each scored six in the first quarter to give the Lady Wolves a 17-8 early advantage.
Emma Kate McBride drained a pair of treys on the way to 10 points while Mallory Tolar and Lexi Barmore added three each. Lakerria Austin and Mary Catherine Hay also each scored basket as Weston improved to 7-6 on the year. Atlanta, who had almost as many free throw attempts (38) as points (42) fell to 0-2 on the year.
WHS (7-6) 17 13 14 11 – 55
AHS (0-2) 8 12 11 11 – 42
WHS scoring: Peterson 22, Maxwell 13, McBride 10, Tolar 3, Barmore 3, Austin 2, Hay 2
AHS scoring: Goff 23, Sapp 12, Herbert 5, Stewart 2
Homer 62 JHHS 47 (boys) The Tigers saw their record even at 2-2 in the disheartening loss to Homer who won their first game of the season after three losses. The difference in the game was the third quarter when Homer stretched a seven point halftime lead to a commanding 20 point advantage. The Tigers , who made only 4 of 18 attempts from the three point line scored almost as many points in the fourth quarter (23) as they did the first three combined (24).
JHHS (2-2) 10 7 7 23 – 47
HHS (1-3) 14 10 20 18 – 62
JHHS 54 Homer 35 (girls) The Lady Tigers outscored Homer 33-15 in the second half to win their 5th straight and sixth in seven games. Xabrianna Jackson and Chamya Waters scored 21 and 20 to lead the way for Jonesboro-Hodge who moved up to #6 in Class 2A following the victory. Yahzmynne Andrews added 11 and Sydney Malone a basket as only four players scored in the contest. Homer dropped to 1-4 with the loss.
JHHS (5-1) 9 12 15 18 – 54
HHS (1-4) 13 7 5 10 – 35
JHHS scoring: Jackson 21, Waters 20, Andrews 11, Malone 2
HHS scoring: Williams 11, Young 9, Webb 8, Curry 7
J-H Junior High 33 Calvary Baptist 24 (girls)
Jonesboro-Hodge Junior High Lady Tigers improved to 4-0 on the young season as Morgan McGee scored 14 points and Tyra Davis recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. LeRonda McGuire added 7 points and dished out 6 assists while Angel Moss scored 2 points, pulled down 5 rebounds and added 2 steals. Ja’Mauri Kimble, Jaidon Venzant, Angel Moss and Realte’ Atkins were also lauded by head coach Cornelius Dunaway for their defensive effort.