AMS Boys Sweep Red Lick

On Nov. 27, Atlanta Middle Schools boys’ basketball swept Red Lick. Deondrae Simmons scorched the nets for 20 points as the eighth grade Rabbs improved to 2-0 on the season, defeating Red Lick 40-24. Jaylen Henderson added nine, Noah Sheffield six, Hayes Highland three and TJ Rainey two.

The seventh grade Rabbits evened their record at 1-1, beating Red Lick 35-18. Kelvin Roberson led the way for the Rabbits with 14 points, Aiden Shields scored nine and Ayden Washington had six.

In a combined B game, twenty-one Rabbits saw action in a victorious effort, 18-8. Braylon Cook netted four points.

Queen City Boys’ Varsity

The Queen City boys’ basketball team got off to a tough start heading into the Thanksgiving holiday by losing two close games. The Dogs fell on Friday, Nov. 17, to Elysian Fields 47-42. On the Monday of Thanksgiving break, the Bulldogs lost a tough one to the Maud Cardinals by a score of 55-48.

Coming out of the Thanksgiving break, the Bulldogs hosted the Santa Slam again vs. the Mcleod Longhorns. Free admission was given to those who brought a stuffed animal to donate to the Salvation Army to help make a kids Christmas here in Northeast Texas. Our Bulldogs fell to McLeod at home by a score of 5635.

Nov. 30 through Dec. 2, the Bulldogs participated in the White Oak Invitational where they were able to secure the team’s first win in a low scoring defensive battle 32-31 over the host team in a raucous atmosphere.

The Bulldogs battled back from a 7-point halftime deficit and a 6-point lead with two and change left in the fourth. The Bulldogs took their first lead in the game on a Trey Jones fade away baseline jumper with five seconds left on the clock.

The Dogs would finish 1-2 in the tournament, but huge strides were made in the growth of the team.

McLeod at Queen City

McLeod’s basketball program battled county foe Queen City on Nov. 28.

The Longhorns won 56-35. McLeod (6-0) had a 14-3 lead after quarter one and posted a 29-10 lead at the half.

Kannon Dempsey recorded a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds, Colton Spence added 13 points with five boards, Grayson Owens had nine points with seven rebounds and Clay Hartsell poured in six points.

Daketrick Smith and Derell Sewell each had eight points and Trey Jones had six points.

The JV boys’ match was a thriller as QC came away with a 52-50 win. Jacob Foster had 16 points for the Longhorns.

The Lady Longhorns fell to the Lady Bulldogs 54-27. QC had a dominant 22-5 lead after the first frame and took a 27-10 lead into the break.

Kenslee Cross had eight points for McLeod, Madison Blair had five and Jacqulyn Shepherd had five.

Lauren Carrell posted 16 points for QC, Serenity Oden added 13, Brooklynn Graner 11 and Mallori Stringer seven.

James Bowie Tourney First Round

McLeod varsity boys’ team ran its record to 7-0 after a 52-27 thumping of Maud in the opener of the James Bowie Tournament on Nov. 30.

The first frame was close as the Longhorns took a 16-10 lead into the second quarter but an 11-3 run by McLeod stretched the lead to 27-13 at halftime.

A 25-14 run in the second half sealed the deal for the ’Horns. Kannon Dempsey had 16 points with five boards, Colton Spence had 12 points with five rebounds and Grayson Owens added 11 points with six boards.

The Longhorns were 7-of-9 from the charity stripe and pulled down a combined 28 rebounds in the contest.

The Lady Longhorns defeated Avinger in the first game of the James Bowie Tournament 45-37 on Nov. 30.

Kenslee Cross scorched the nets for 30 points and Jacqulyn Shepherd added seven.

Second Round

On Dec. 1, the Longhorns topped Harleton 64-22. There was never a doubt the ’Horns (8-0) would win as McLeod took a 12-2 lead after one quarter of play and held onto a commanding 32-13 lead at halftime.

A dominant 32-9 run in the second half finished off the Wildcats. Colton Spence went off for 21 points, Grayson Owens added 11 with seven steals, Jaxon Smith poured in 10 points with seven boards, Kannon Dempsey had eight points with eight rebounds, Trey Gant had six points and Austin McGray had four points with four boards and five steals.

The Lady Longhorns turned in a dominant performance as well as they beat Maud 36-11. McLeod won every quarter en route to the 25-point win.

Kenslee Cross posted 16 points, Madison Blair added 10, Rylee Parker four and Gracey Vick three.

Title Game

On Dec. 2, both the boys and girls’ teams from McLeod made it to the championship round.

The boys’ team (9-0) won the title after a 46-34 win over host James Bowie. Kannon Dempsey turned in another double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, Colton Spence had a team-high 16 points, Grayson Owens added eight points and seven boards and Jaxon Smith had four points with five rebounds.

The Lady Longhorns battled Harts Bluff in the championship game on Dec. 2, and came up short 22-18.

McLeod had a 9-2 lead at halftime but a 20-9 run in the second half completed the comeback for the Lady Bulldogs.

Kenslee Cross paced the Lady ’Horns with 13 points, Jacqulyn Shepherd added three and Gracey Vick two.

Atlanta

The Lady Rabbs took part in the Hughes Springs Tournament last week and won the championship.

Atlanta beat Henderson 60-53 with Kym Sheppard dropping 22 points, Toya Hurd nine, Carlajah Adger eight, Aysia Heard seven and Ja’daeya Larry seven.

The Lady Rabbs also beat Bloomburg 44-37 with Larry posting 18 points, Sheppard nine and Ma’kaylin King six.

In the final contest Atlanta torched Mineola 52-33 with Larry scoring 12 points, Sheppard 10, King nine and Staci Nelson seven.