May 18, 2013

HCMS tips off hoop season

November 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Heard County Middle School hosted its Second Annual Thanksgiving Shootout Tournament last week to tip-off the 2012-2013 middle school basketball season.

Eighteen teams from West Georgia and East Alabama competed in the week-long tournament which began on Monday and ended with games all day on Saturday.

In the boys bracket, Gardner-Newman (Lagrange) brought home the first place trophy after defeating Opelika (AL) 47-38 in the boys championship game.

The Mustangs were led by tournament MVP Laparion Perry who finished with 16 points in the championship game.

The Heard County boys led by Coach Allen Sikes finished in fourth place after dropping their final game to Auburn in the third place match-up 46-22 .

Quindon Dunson led the Braves scoring with six points and Kendez Goode added four.



2012 HCMS Thanksgiving Shoot-Out (Photos by Khris Martin)

All-tournament team members Goode and Austin Miller led the way for the Braves with ten and five points respectively in the second round 59-20 loss to Opelika on Thursday.

The Braves defeated Brookstone 38-24 in their first tourney game on Monday where Miller dropped in 16  including three 3-pointers while Goode and Jaden Moreland each scored seven.

In the girls bracket, the Long Cane Cougars (Troup) pulled off a stunning upset defeating Gardner-Newman  40-32.

The win was significant because not only did it bring the tournament championship trophy home to the Cougars but also because, according to Cougar athletic director and Heard County alum Jerry Whitmore, it was the first time in over ten years that the Cougar girls had defeated their arch rivals on the basketball court.

Kwyneshia Spence was named the tournament MVP for the Cougars.

Like the boys, Coach Kathy Scott and her girl’s team also finished in fourth place in the tournament after dropping the third place game 28-22 to the Auburn Tigers on Saturday.

Hannah Sanders led the Lady Braves with eight points and several rebounds while Alyssa Cosper scored seven.

The Lady Braves started the tourney by blasting Brookstone 46-3 on Monday afternoon.

Jennifer Graley sparked the win scoring eight.

Sanders and Alexis Crawford each added six while Alexis Nelms added five off the bench. In the Lady Braves second round game they were defeated in a tight contest to Long Cane 45-41.

Hannah Stephens led the team with ten points and several rebounds.

Cosper threw down nine while Ally and Kimberly Harris each had six points.

Cosper and Stephens were both selected to the all tournament team.

Other all tournament girls included: Kenyata Cormier from Bay Springs, KiKi Owens from Callaway, Marti Laughbaum from Brookstone, Anna Schrews from Bremen, Diamond Buchana from Opelika, Alexis Tate and Ashley Carter from Auburn, Shenarious Strozier, Arian Dozier, and Courtney Alexander from Gardner-Newman, Shaquuaya Gilbert, Jedda Madden, and Akhya Mitchell from Long Cane.

Other boys all-tourney players included: Tim Green (Bay Springs), Bralyn Sanders (Callaway), Willaim Reeves (Brookstone), Cody Robinson (Bremen), Chance Hill (Long Cane), Garrison Brooks and Damon Freeman (Auburn), Jarius Freeman, Willis Kemp, and James Clark (Gardner-Newman), Jaleel Heard, AJ Butler, and Caleb Florence (Opelika).

“We were real happy with how the tournament turned out and very appreciative to all the teams who participated. I would also like to thank all the fans who turned out as well as all of our volunteers who helped to make this week possible,” stated Coach Sikes.

The middle school looks forward to hosting this annual Thanksgiving tournament again next year. To see more photos of the tournament visit Khris Martin Photography.

Filed Under: BRAVE NATION, SPORTS

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