It was a good week for the Choctaw County boys basketball team with victories over Hatley 49-29 in a Region 4-3A game and East Webster 64-55 in a non-region game.
A defensive change after the Chargers fell behind 12-10 at the end of the first quarter led to the win over Hatley.
“We came out trying to press them. We thought we could create turnovers,” said coach Gary Beals. “We kind of got into foul trouble.” Zavier Coleman picked up three quick fouls.
“We were way too aggressive trying to get steals. We though we could out-athlete them. They had some easy looks at the basket because we were overplaying. We settled back into a 2-3 zone at the start of the second quarter and that really made a difference in the game.”
The Chargers took control in the second quarter, outscoring the Tigers 21-5.
Jared Bellew scored 12 points and Tray Jobe had 10 for Choctaw County. Ques McNeals contributed eight points, five steals, four rebounds and three assists.
It was a 26-15 first quarter that keyed the win over East Webster. “One thing I am proud of is that we had some good, balanced scoring,” said Beals.
Bellew, Xavier Coleman and Kendall Coleman each had 16 points and Jobe had 14. Bellew also had 11 rebounds and Tylan Carter had 10. Zavier Coleman had five assists and three steal, Kendall Coleman five steals and three assists.
Chandler Hodges scored a game-high 20 points for East Webster, but Reid Gatlin, the Wolverines' leading scorer, was held to three points.
Beals credited the play of McNeal. “He made some hustle plays off the bench and got some key rebounds for us. He sparked us on the defensive end.”
GIRLS
The Lady Charger defeated Hatley 42-39, but lost to East Webster 48-43. “We are now 2-1 in the district and playing well as a team,” said coach Mandy Jewell.
LaGenesis Johnson was four of four from the line and scored 16 points against Hatley. Destinee Love scored 11 points and Ty'liyah Alston had nine.
Johnson scored 12 first-half points against East Webster, but fouled out early in the second half. Jalia James led the Lady Chargers with 14 points. Alston had eight.
The Chargers and Lady Chargers played Noxubee County Tuesday in the season's final region game. They will complete the regular season with a game at West Point February 4 and a home game with Eupora for Senior Night Feb. 6. The region tournament at Houston begins Feb. 11.
Grace Christian boys continue to play well
The Grace Christian School boys basketball team had wins over Victory Christian of New Albany 60-34 and Meridian Home School 45-31 and a loss to Hebron Christian 58-50 last week.
“We are a young team and we often play like it,” said coach Jason Morgan. “But overall, the kids work hard and have fought through a lot of obstacles to improve this season.”
The Eagles started the season 4-11 while experiencing injury problems, but have improved to 14-14.
A couple of sophomores led the team last week. Bonner Brownlee had 28 points and six rebounds against Hebron and 17 and six in the Meridian Home School game. Jacob Phillips totaled 44 points and 27 rebounds in the three games. Jacob Hogue, a senior, contributed 16 points and seven rebounds to the win over Victory Christian.
The Lady Eagles had only one game last week, a 50-27 loss to Hebron. “We did not play well at all,” said coach Talor Troyer. She said a two-week layoff between games contributed to the team's performance.
Grace Christian was shorthanded because Caroline Robbins missed the game while attending an academic conference.
Both teams played Victory Christian of Columbus Tuesday and have road games with Starkville Christian Saturday. The season will conclude next week with home games Tuesday against Delta Streets Academy of Greenwood and the Grace Christian School Invitational Tournament Friday and Saturday.
