Both Parklane’s boys and girls teams are still trying to learn how to win against MPSA AAA competition.
The boys took Jackson Prep to overtime before falling 60-54 and the girls had a sliver of hope until a Chris Webber moment with two seconds left sealed their fate in a 44-38 loss.
Parklane head boys coach Ricky Gray said he didn’t want to run with Jackson Prep entering the game, so he was hoping to make it a one-quarter game in the fourth.
The Pioneers trailed by seven when the final quarter started. The Patriots ran the lead to 10 with four minutes left, but Parklane was still fighting on each possession to cut the deficit.
Blake Rhodus scored seven points in two minutes to cut the lead to two with 1:56 left.
With just over a minute left, Jackson Prep had an inbound opportunity and tossed it into the corner of the court where Parklane’s Jeff Simmons tipped the ball up and controlled it before passing off to Dane Hogan, who laid it in for the tying bucket with 1:15 remaining.
Prep’s John Yerger rushed down the court trying to catch Parklane by surprise and was called for a charge to turn the ball over. Parklane was able to run down the rest of the clock looking for its final shot for the win.
“We knew they weren’t going to let (Hogan) take it,” Gray said. “We knew the double team was going to come high and it did, but we didn’t know which side it was coming from.
“The shot looked good when he took it.”
Simmons was wide open on the left wing with a few seconds remaining for the win, but the ball wedged off the rim to send the game to overtime.
Prep didn’t waste any time getting a lead in the extra period as Lane Bobo and Austin Lane hit early 3-pointers to put the Patriots up four with 2:20 left.
“This was our first overtime game and it was especially tough on our young guys,” Gray said.
“That’s an emotional game.”
Hogan was the only Pioneer who scored in overtime, netting all six points. He didn’t have enough to keep up with the Patriots, who let Parklane within three with 30 seconds left before making three of their final four free throws.
Hogan finished with 18 points, while Rhodus, who fouled out in overtime, tallied 19 to go with nine rebounds.
JACKSON PREP 44, PARKLANE 38
The girls were successful in making a one-quarter game out of their game — heading to the fourth it was tied 31-all.
Late misses didn’t help the Pioneers as consecutive missed 3-pointers led Parklane into dire straits.
Maggie Jackson put back a miss with just under three seconds left to draw the lead back to two with the little time remaining.
Parklane fouled before the ball was inbounded to keep the clock from starting and send Mary Staton Toler to the line. Before her first shot the Pioneers called timeout, but they didn’t have any left.
A technical foul resulted and Toler received four shots at the line, with the Patriots getting the ball after. It put an end to the game without any suspense.
“I thank the Lord it wasn’t with a lead,” Parklane head girls coach Russell Cruise said. “There were 2.9 seconds left and their best shooter was on the line — we needed a miracle.”
It didn’t happen, as Toler sank all four free throws.
Jackson finished the game with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Lindsay Clark scored nine and pulled down eight boards.
“Jackson did a great job of using her right hand and taking the ball to the basket,” Cruise said.
Two freshmen started for Cruise: Kellen Choate and Chelsea Simmons. After having played against Jackson Academy, Prep and Presbyterian Christian, Cruise said they should be seasoned, and continued work will lead to wins, hopefully as early as Saturday.
“Madison-Ridgeland Academy is just like us,” Cruise said. “They’re playing teams tight, but they’re not winning.”
