H.S. BOYS’ BBALL: Bruins edge out Lions, 58-57
The University School of Jackson boys’ basketball team held the lead for a total of 16 seconds on Saturday against rival Trinity Christian Academy.
The final two seconds were all that mattered as the Bruins picked up a 58-57 win at TCA.
With 4.8 seconds remaining on the clock, USJ (9-3) had the ball out of bounds under the basket.
USJ freshman Brandon Craig managed to get wide open under the basket, and senior Nigel Peoples got the in-bounds pass right to him to give the Bruins the 58-57 lead with two seconds left.
“The thing is that there is no right way to play basketball,” US coach Oliver Simmons said. “Some teams press, some play zone, some play man. There is no right way to win. The formula I have found for this team is that we have to get after it from the start and try to impress our will on the other team. You hope that will help you to make a run, and we made a run at the right time.”
TCA’s long-range shot at the buzzer bounced off the rim.
George Markos led USJ with 20 points, while Peoples added 13 points.
“Our motto is ‘Stop the bucket’” Markos said. “We play to get 10 stops on defense whether that is deflections or whatever. We focus on the defensive end”
The Lions (7-5) had a couple of chances to put the game away in the final 35 seconds, but three different players missed the front end of 1-and-1s. James Bond grabbed the offensive rebound on the first two free throws, but USJ grabbed the third to give the Bruins a chance to win.
In each of the quarters, TCA built up a lead only to see USJ go on a run late to tie the game or take a one point lead.
The Lions took a 14-8 lead with 1:43 left in the first quarter on a basket by Eli Parker, but a layup by USJ’s Holland Hawks at the buzzer gave the Bruins the 17-16 lead after one quarter.
TCA took a 27-23 lead on a layup by Sergio Pagoago (19 points) with 2:17 left in the second quarter, but a jumper by Markos at the buzzer tied the game 29-29 at halftime.
“We knew that this would be a close game, and we knew that we would win,” Markos said. “TCA will always make this a tough game.”
A 3-pointer by Ryan Smith (17 points) with 5:17 remaining in the third quarter gave the Lions the 36-29 lead, but a Craig basket with seven seconds remaining tied the game up 42-42 with eight minutes to play.
The run out also happened in the final quarter. Pagoago scored seven of TCA’s first 10 points in the fourth quarter for the 53-46 lead, but the Bruins found a way to win behind 3-point shooting, defense and the right play at the end.
“3-point shooting is just the way we play,” Simmons said. “We have guys that can shoot the ball, and we have a point guard in Nigel that can distribute the ball. We try to get teams to double on him so that he can dish to kids who have worked on shooting the ball.”
USJ played without junior Clayton Hughes again, but Simmons said that Hughes should be back after the New Year.
“It is a blessing in disguise,” Simmons said. “This team has learned how to jell and play together.”
Girls
USJ 47,
TCA 31
The Lady Lions (6-6) struggled to score in the second and third quarters, putting up a combined nine points, as USJ picked up a win.
Morgan Williams scored a game-high 20 points to pace the Lady Bruins (10-2) and Anna Jones added 16.
TCA was led by Brynne Lytle with 15 points.
Michael Odom, 425-9754