The WSHS Tigers chalked up their first victory as the boys season got under way December 3 in an away game against the Lakeview Gators. The Tigers came out on top 68-62.
As they did in their preseason match against Jonesboro-Hodge, the Tigers came out slow in the first quarter, putting only 4 points on the board while the Gators put up 11. They picked up the pace in the second period, with 20 points yet fell back 1 point further as Lakeview scored 21.
It was the second half that made the difference, whether it was hitting their stride of halftime talk from coach Allen Tew for in the third period, WSHS defense held Lakeview to 9 while offense was 15. The Tigers doubled up in the final stanza with 29 points. Even though Lakeview also improved in that period with 21, it wasn’t enough to overcome their third quarter lull, handing Winnfield the win 68-62.
“Tank and Javen played really well together in our High-low offense versus the Weston 2-3 Zone,” said coach Allen Tew as the game concluded.
Leading the Tiger charge was Jaylon Jackson with 28 points, hitting 12 of 16 free throw attempts, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. SemaJ Evens poured in 13 points and was 3 of 6 from 3-point range, has 4 rebounds and 1 steal. Javen Jackson scored 11 points, with 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. Jordan Washington added 9 points, 3 rebounds and hit 7 or 8 from the charity stripe. Kendrick Davenport scored 5 points including a 3-pointer, pulled down 6 rebounds, with 2 assists and 3 steals. Damascus Lewis added 2 points, with 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Jaidyn Rainwater accounted for a rebound while Germany King added an assist.
Top scoring for Lakeview came from Jamarcus Reliford with 21, Daylon Telsee with 16 and Brandon Jones with 10.
But in their homecourt opener against Peabody on December 6, the Tigers couldn’t resist the Warhorse charge and fell 52-64. The Tigers put 21 points on the board in the final period but that wasn’t enough to overcome the lead Peabody had built over the first three stanzas.
Jaylon Jackson posted a good opening period with 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. But the only other offense in the first came with a bucket by Jordan Washington. Scoring in the middle periods was moderate (10 and 9 points), with contributions by several. In that fourth quarter, Jaylon Jackson posted 7 (with one 3-pointer), Jordan Washington hit a 3, Kendrick Davenport hit a pair of 3s, Tank Lewis has 2 and Javen Jackson added 3 for the 21.
Overall, Jaylon Jackson was leading scorer with 1, followed by Javan Jackson 9, Kendrick Davenport 8, Jordan Washington 7, Tank Lewis 4, Jaidyn Rainwater 4, and Germany King 3.
Leading scorer for Peabody was Isaiah Jones with 25.