Boys basketball splits in opening week

The Thomasville High School boys' varsity basketball team ended the opening week of the 2008 - 2009 season with a split. They began the season and the year with a road trip to Butler Tuesday, December 2, where they faced a good Choctaw County Tiger squad that defeated them 57 - 46.

In the game, the homestanding Tigers outscored their guest in every quarter except the fourth to post the 11 point victory. A large part of the Thomasville team's problems rested with the offense which shot only 37% from the floor and an abysmal 30% from the charity stripe.

Setting the pace offensively in the game for Thomasville was Jamarcus Blackmon with 14 points followed by James White with 12. Demetric Watters was next with eight points while Tevin Pope and Markell Watters had four points each and Alex Buford and Shaq Jackson scored two points apiece. Markell Watters led the way on the boards with 10 rebounds followed by Buford with eight and Jackson with four. Pope was the assist leader with six followed by Justin Campbell and Jackson with two apiece.

Blackmon led the charge on defense with four steals followed by Buford with two. Markell Watters recorded one blocked shot for Thomasville as well.

The Thomasville boys followed up on their season opening loss to Choctaw County with a 56 - 47 win over the Marengo Panthers on Friday, December 5. The win came in the season home opener.

After falling behind 13 - 9 in the first quarter the Tigers regained the lead in the second quarter going in at half time up by one, 21 - 20. They expanded on the lead in the third quarter, outscoring their guest 16 - 8 and then matched them 19 - 19 in the final quarter to preserve the win. Although still not where they would like it the Tiger offense improved their scoring percentages some notching 38% from the floor and 48% from the free throw line.

Offensively Markell Watters and James White were the leaders this time scoring 11 points apiece in the victory. Shaq Jackson was next with eight points followed by Alex Buford, Justin Campbell, and Tevin Pope with six points each. Rounding out the scoring Jamarcus Blackmon had four points, Jonathan Williams two points, and the duo of McKinley Holt and Demetric Watters one point apiece. Demetric Watters was the leader on the boards with five rebounds followed by Blackmon and Markell Watters with four apiece. Pope was the assist leader with five followed by Buford with three and Campbell with two. Blackmon and Buford led the defensive charge with three steals each.

On the docket next the Tigers were slated to play the Jackson Aggies at home on Friday, December 12, and the Choctaw County Tigers at home on Tuesday, December 16, before participating in the annual Clarke County Tournament in Jackson this weekend. The varsity boys are scheduled to open their tournament action on Friday, December 19 at 5:00 PM against the Clarke County Bulldogs.