BOYS BASKETBALL

Boyd drops 37 as Haywood beats South Side

Michael Odom
USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee
Haywood's Dedric Boyd (20) goes up for a shot between South Side's Geordan Reed, right, and Quaylon Fuller, left, at Haywood High School in Brownsville, Tenn., on Friday, Dec. 2, 2016. Reed fouled Boyd on the play.

BROWNSVILLE – In the first five games of the 2016-17 season, the Haywood boys basketball team has lost three of them.

But don’t think the Tomcats are underachieving. They have just played one of the toughest schedules in the state with the three losses coming against White Station, Memphis Central and Sheffield.

Haywood (3-3) got back to winning on Friday with a 72-59 victory over South Side at Haywood.

“I learned that this team is unselfish, and they will not quit,” Haywood coach Kendall Dancy said. “In the first five games, we have played half-court man-to-man, and we didn’t switch off or press.”

Eastern Kentucky signee Dedric Boyd scored 37 points to lead three Tomcat players in double figures. Tristan Jarrett added 15 and Shurayveun Hines had 11.

“This team is not going to give up even with a tough schedule,” Boyd said. “We have got to stay humble and keep working.”

The Hawks (2-3) kept the game close at times, but Haywood made runs in the middle of the third and the start of the fourth quarter to help put the game away.

South Side's Dee Robinson (33) knocks the ball out from the fingertips of Haywood's Tristan Jarrett (13) at Haywood High School in Brownsville, Tenn., on Friday, Dec. 2, 2016.

After a Kamron Rose layup cut Haywood’s lead to two (34-32), the Tomcats went on an 11-2 run to extend the lead back to double figures.

Haywood also went on an eight-point run to start the fourth quarter to up the lead to 19 with six minutes to play.

“We were moving the ball well,” Boyd said. “Me and Tristan were doing what we do to help our team get the W.”

The rallies were led by Haywood’s three senior guards, who went on to lead the team in scoring.

“Our role players do a lot,” Dancy said. “But we are going to go as far as Boyd, Jarrett and Hines lead our young guys.”

South Side's Kevin Marcell (2) dribbles between his legs against Haywood at Haywood High School in Brownsville, Tenn., on Friday, Dec. 2, 2016.

South Side’s Bryce McBride tried to will the Hawks back in the game in the fourth quarter as he scored 21 of his team-high 29 points in the quarter, including three 3-pointers.

But Haywood’s guard play was too much in the end.

“We have played some of the best teams in AAA, but tonight, we were more on our competition level,” Boyd said. “We had to show that we can step up and get the win.”

Rose added 15 points to help South Side.

Girls

South Side 41,

Haywood 37

In a game that started sloppy at halftime, South Side (4-0) improved the offense enough in the second half to comeback from six points down to stay unbeaten.

The two teams combined for 39 turnovers in the game with 13 coming in the first quarter when the score was 4-4.

After trailing 19-13 at halftime, South Side outscored the Lady Tomcats (2-4) 16-9 in the third quarter and 12-9 in the fourth quarter.

Cheyenne Cunningham led the Lady Hawks with 14 points, while Jamirah Shutes led Haywood with 13.

South Side overcame an 11-for-32 shooting mark from the free throw line.

Michael Odom, 425-9754