Basketball: Stephenson, Tucker Split Top 10 Ranked Teams

By Mark Brock

Two high school basketball games at Tucker on Tuesday featured four Class AAAAA Top 10 ranked teams as Stephenson invaded William Venable Gym and A. Z. Johnson Court at Tucker High School.

The girls’ game featured No. 2 ranked Tucker hosting No. 5 ranked Stephenson in a key Division A game for in Region 6-AAAAA with Tucker rallying and holding off for the 52-48 victory.

The visiting Lady Jaguars (13-5, 4-1) got out to an early 11-4 lead behind Terrianna Cave who had 9 first half points before the Lady Tigers rallied and tied the game at 14-14 on a short jumper by Naima Jackson heading into the second quarter.

The two teams struggled on offense in the second quarter as neither scored during the first five minutes. The Lady Jaguars scored seven points in the final three minutes on four by Schelbi McKenzie and three from Cave to take a 21-18 lead into the half.

Miami signee Erykah Davenport took over the final 1:25 of the third period scoring three consecutive baskets sending the No. 2 ranked Lady Tigers (16-3, 4-0) to a 39-30 advantage with one quarter to play.

Miracle Gray hit a three-pointer and Nadaysia Brooks hit one of two free throws to cut the Tucker lead to three (49-46) with 1:37 to play.

The two teams traded baskets and Stephenson had a three-point try to time the game with 15 seconds to play that hit the rim and bounced away to Tucker’s Davenport and Tori Robinson was fouled with eight seconds to play.

Robinson hit one of her two free throws to seal the 52-48 win and give the Lady Tigers a half game lead over Stephenson in Division A of the region standings.

Naima Jackson led the Lady Tigers with 14 points followed by Davenport with 13 points and 15 rebounds and Nuba Jackson with 13 points.

Miracle Gray had 13 points to lead Stephenson and Terrianna Cave hit for 12 points.

Boys
Stephenson 55, Tucker 47
Montez Sweat hit for 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds (8 offensive) to power the No. 7 ranked Stephenson Jaguars to a 55-47 victory over the No. 3 ranked Tucker Tigers.

The win broke a three-game skid for the Jaguars (14-5) and pushed them out to 5-0 record atop Division A of the Region 6-AAAAA standings. Tucker (15-4, 3-1) dropped its third consecutive game having lost to No. 2 Miller Grove on Friday and in tournament play to Hamilton-Memphis in Memphis on a half court shot at the buzzer on Saturday.

Tucker had rallied from an 9-4 first quarter deficit to take a 16-11 lead behind a three-pointer and one of two from the line by Shembari Phillips with 5:12 to play in the half.

Stephenson then got rolling taking advantage of four Tucker turnovers to put together an 18-1 run to finish the half up 29-17. Juwaan Henderson had six points and Delmont Walton and Sweat had four points each in the run as the Jaguars took control of the half.

Tucker cut the lead to nine three times in the third quarter, but a Thomas Oglesby three-pointer and two free throws by Sweat in the final 43 seconds helped Stephenson remain ahead 42-28.

The Tigers cut the lead to 10 three times in the fourth quarter, but Sweat was tough on the offensive end with three offensive boards leading to five points for the senior forward to keep the Jaguars in front.

Phillips, who had 24 points on the night, tried to will the Tigers back into it with a three-pointer and two free throws to cut the lead to 51-43 with 1:47 to play.

Stephenson hit four of six free throws in the final 1:46 to hold off the Tigers despite two quick baskets by Devante Reynolds.

Thomas Oglesby joined Sweat in double figures for Stephenson with 2 while Phillips game-high 24 points made him the only player in double figures for the Tigers.