Nothing has come easy for Parklane Academy’s boys this season.
Every game has been a battle for the Pioneers, and Friday’s home game against Copiah Academy was no exception.
Parklane trailed Copiah 42-41 after three quarters before going on a 12-0 run to open the final quarter. The Pioneers pulled away to earn a 66-56 MAIS AAA victory.
With the win, Parklane improved to 10-9 overall and 8-3 in AAA action. Copiah, which recently forfeited 15 victories because MAIS ruled two of its players ineligible, dropped to 1-26 overall. The Colonels would be 15-12 if not for the forfeits.
Quartez Brown played a huge role in getting the Pioneers a win. The sophomore guard stole the ball and fed senior guard Matthew Artigues for a layup that gave the hosts a 43-42 lead with 7:30 left to play. Brown then connected on a trey shortly after Artigues had connected from long range.
Brown’s trey put the Pioneers up 49-42 with 6:16 to go. He had two more baskets in the game and finished with 30 points on 12 of 24 shooting from the field. He hit 3 of 8 shots from beyond the 3-point arz. He also sank three free throws.
By the time the Colonels scored in the fourth quarter at the 4:42 mark, Parklane led by double digits.
Artigues and senior Brady Lea both contributed 16 points in the victory. Lea also had eight rebounds and eight assists, both team highs.
Brown added seven rebounds, five steals and four assists.
Copiah hit four treys in the first quarter and finished 8 of 20 from beyond the arc for the game.
“(Copiah) came out on fire and was shooting the ball extremely well from outside,” Parklane head coach Chris Weaver said. “We did a better job in the second half of getting to their shooters and contesting their shots.”
Trey Moss had 29 points for the Colonels. Moss had four treys.
Syrshawn Fitch added 17 points and Zane Frazier scored 11 points.
For the game, Parklane was 25 of 55 shooting from the field, including 4 of 14 from long range.
Parklane was 12 of 18 from the charity stripe.
Brown had a 14-point first quarter and scored from all angles.
“Quartez has been shooting the ball extremely well,” Weaver said. “He is hard to guard when he is shooting well from outside. And that helps everybody else. It helps Brady penetrate and get his shots. You can spread out the defense and make it easier to find shots.”
Weaver said the Pioneers are improving every game.
“I see us playing better team-wise than earlier in the season,” he said. “A lot of that has to do with the kids are starting to know each other and figuring out what what the other can do.”
The Pioneers played at Lamar Saturday and host Oak Forest Academy on Monday.
Varsity action for OFA begins at approximately 6 p.m.
Lady Pioneers fall
Parklane’s girls only trailed Copiah Academy 20-17 after the first quarter, but the Lady Pioneers had trouble scoring in the final three quarters, falling 56-38 Friday night in MAIS AAA action.
Parklane had just a free throw in the second quarter and trailed 32-18. Copiah led 50-25 after the third quarter.
With the loss, Parklane dropped to 4-15 overall and 1-10 in district play. Copiah moved to 11-16, 5-8.
“We’re young, but we will continue to play hard,” Parklane head girls coach Rusti Magee said.
Against Copiah, Magee started two freshmen, two sophomores and a senior. The top player off the bench was an eighth-grader.
“We’ve just go to keep pushing and keep learning,” Magee said. “We’re young and inexperienced, but we’re working toward the future.”
Morgan Webb’s 12 points led Parklane. Senior Hannah Moak added eight points.
Brooke Walker’s 16 points led Copiah. Kamryn Vanlandingham had 14 and Taylor Wilson had 11 points.
JV boys win
Parklane’s junior varsity boys defeated Copiah Academy 51-35 Friday night and improved to 10-7 overall this season.
Brandt Watson led Parklane with 14 points. Newlon Gillihan and Noah Floyd each had 13 points.
