Huntsville-area basketball highlights from Nov. 25-30.
GIRLS
2-time defending state champ Hazel Green looks strong again
Hazel Green rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat St. Francis (Ga.) 62-56 in overtime in the BallN Prep Thanksgiving Bash at Lee-Huntsville. Alabama State signee Farrah Pearson recorded 24 points and 15 rebounds, and Samiya Steele scored 18 points for the two-time defending Class 6A state champion Trojans, who improved to 8-0. St. Francis was a Georgia Class A-Private state semifinalist last season. Hazel Green defeated Holy Spirit (Ga.) 73-36 in a BallN Prep game played on its home court. MaKenzie Hill had 20 points, eight assists and five steals, while Pearson (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Katie Johnson (13 points, 10 rebounds) both finished with a double-double. Pearson’s 18-point, 14-rebound performance led the Trojans in a 37-31 win over Athens in the Encore Classic at Hartselle.
Lee wins 4 of 5 during Thanksgiving events.
Lee-Huntsville went 2-1 in the BallN Prep Thanksgiving Bash and 2-0 in the Encore Classic. The Generals (10-2), playing on their home court, knocked off Tennessee teams Bartlett (63-56) and Maplewood (50-44) in the BallN Prep event. Kashara Preston scored 17 points against Bartlett, while Tatiana Davis added 11 points, 16 rebounds and six steals. Jamariah Turner led the way with 15 points against Maplewood, and Janiyah Silas added 14 points. Lee lost 61-56 to Spain Park at Hazel Green. Lee defeated Priceville (60-47) and West Point (50-47) in the Encore Classic at Austin and Hartselle, respectively. Turner scored 19 points against Priceville.
Mae Jemison takes 5th place in Tennessee
Saniah Parker poured in 32 points as Mae Jemison outlasted Daniel Boone (Tenn.) 63-57 in overtime to win the fifth-place game of La Quinta Inn Thanksgiving tournament at Bradley Central in Cleveland, Tennessee. Tederia Ashley pulled down 11 rebounds. The Jaguars also beat Daniel Boone 56-43 earlier in the tournament, with Parker and Ashley scoring 13 points apiece. Parker scored 19 points in a 63-58 loss to East Hamilton (Tenn.). Prior to the tourney, Mae Jemison defeated Muscle Shoals 56-47. Ashley had 22 points and seven rebounds, and Mae Davis added 13 points.
Bob Jones earns showcase victories
Deja Guinn scored 24 points as Bob Jones edged Miller Academy (Mo.) 45-4 in the BallN Prep Thanksgiving Bash. The Patriots also beat Columbia 58-29 in the event, with Guinn’s 17 points leading the way. Kamryn Knight added 14 points for Bob Jones (3-4).
Sparkman takes 2 of 3
Sparkman went 1-1 in the Encore Classic. Maya Cable scored 11 points in a 49-27 win over Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, and Kennnedy Langham scored eight points in a 41-28 loss to Hartselle. Emma Bailey’s 15 points led the Senators (8-4) to a 51-27 victory over Phil Campbell in the Hampton Inn Thanksgiving Bash at Wallace State.
BOYS
Buckorn still undefeated
Buckhorn moved to 10-0 with three wins at Gulf Shores’ Bash at the Beach. The Bucks, who also went 3-0 at the event last year, defeated Westbrook Christian 80-37, Foley 81-31 and Escambia County 75-35. Kendall Humphrey scored 17 points and Zavien Causey added 16 against Foley, which marked Class 6A Buckhorn’s fifth victory against 7A teams. Humphrey and Causey scored 17 points apiece against Escambia County. Jalon Chapman’s 15 points paced the Bucks against Westbrook.
Bob Jones places 3rd in host event
Jalen Myers’ 20-point, 15-rebound performance helped Bob Jones hold off East Limestone 65-61 in the third-place game of the 16-team N2Hoops Invitational in Madison. Jadan Coleman added 15 points for the Patriots (7-2), who fell behind by 10 after the first quarter, then outscored the Indians 19-4 in the second quarter. Bob Jones lost 59-58 to Lee-Huntsville on a last-second shot in the semifinals. Myers had 23 points and 14 boards, and Jalen Jackson scored 20 points. The Patriots beat Hazel Green 69-64 in the quarterfinals behind Coleman (25 points) and Myers (20 points, 13 rebounds). Coleman and Myers poured in 27 points apiece in an 87-75 win over Clarke County in the first round. Myers also had 15 rebounds.
Huntsville finishes 3rd in Alabaster
Huntsville led by as many as 25 points in a 60-43 win over Enterprise in the third-place game of Thompson’s Thanksgiving tournament in Alabaster. Massiah Morris scored 14 points, and Griffin Way added 13 for the Crimson Panthers (5-3). Huntsville lost 69-64 to the host Warriors in the semis. Jamari Tate scored 18 points for the Panthers, who eliminated Thompson in last year’s playoffs. Huntsville dominated previously unbeaten Baker 82-49 behind Luke Guyette’s 22 points. Morris added 14 points for the Panthers, who hit 14 of 27 attempts from 3-point range.
SJPII adds wins in Hanceville
St. John Paul II earned a pair of victories at Wallace State, knocking off Westminster-Oak Mountain (76-49) and Carbon Hill (73-41). James Shores scored 17 points against Westminster, and Thomas Howald scored 15 against Carbon Hill as the Falcons. Seth Brown scored 13 points in both games for the Falcons (3-1).
Whitesburg pulls away
Luke Barker scored 21 points as Whitesburg Christian turned a 1-point halftime lead into a 61-43 win over Woodville. Isaiah Matthews added 11 points for the Warriors (5-2).
Winning on the road
Sparkman defeated Yazoo County (Miss.) 73-63 at the Lighthouse Classic in Corinth, Mississippi.
Nick Sawyer made six 3-pointers and led the Senators with 21 points. Calen Lightford added 16, and Xavier Williams 15. Tyrese Elliott had 11 assists, and Ragland had 10 rebounds.
(To submit game results or other information about Huntsville-area basketball, email to preps@al.com).