Tigers and Bulldogs claw it out in tripleheader

The Caruthersville Tigers junior high basketball teams hosted the South Pemiscot Bulldogs in an excellent, action-packed tripleheader Thursday night, Nov. 2. With a good-sized crowd on hand, fans witnessed two close games in the seventh- and eighth-grade boys games, with Caruthersville edging out the Bulldogs in both contests. The girls game was not as close, as the Lady Tigers took control early and cruised to an easy win.

The eighth grade matchup was close throughout the game, with the score going back and forth for much of the first three and a half quarters. Early in the third quarter, South Pemiscot’s Zach Southern drained a bucket to give the Bulldogs a 21-20 lead. The lead would go back the Tigers when Devonte Hamilton sank a Tiger basket to put them back on top, 25-24. A.J. Wilbourn tied it back up at 25, but the Tigers came roaring back with two points, giving Caruthersville a 27-25 lead.

Zach Southern went back to work for South Pemiscot, draining a bucket to knot the score at 29 apiece. The Bulldogs captured the lead again when Wilbourn soared the lane and nicely laid it up for the basket. The third frame ended with South Pemiscot maintaining a slim two-point lead, 29-31.

The fourth quarter was a thriller as well. The Tigers’ Cureen Grady tied the game at 33 with a bucket, but Wilbourn drained another basket to put South Pemiscot up 35-33. Zach Southern knocked down another two points to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to 37-34.

Not to be outdone, the Tigers would go on to tie the game back up at 37. Caruthersville’s Devonte Hamilton poured in a few buckets to put the Tigers ahead 41-37. South Pemiscot’s Mark Jones tossed in a bucket to put the ‘Dogs within two points, 41-39, but the Tigers would control the final two minutes of the final period and snag a hard-fought 46-39 win.

Devonte Hamilton finished the night 19 points for the Tigers, followed by Cureen Grady with 13. Dalton Sherrill pitched in five points, and Jamal Jackson had four. Isaiah Rodgers and Zolyn Davis added three points apiece for Caruthersville.

For the Bulldogs, Zach Southern led the scoring attack with 14 points. Brevin Carlisle knocked down two 3-pointers and another 2-pointer for a total of eight points. A.J. Wilbourn sank seven points, and Mark Jones six. Shawn Kinnon tacked on four points for South Pemiscot.

The seventh-grade boys contest was a good one as well, even though South Pemiscot dropped their first game of the season. The final score was 31-28, Tigers. Pacing Caruthersville with 20 points was Isaiah Rodgers. Tylan Golliday pitched in seven points, while Hayden Nazerieus and Danny Ricks added two points each for the Tigers.

For South Pemiscot’s seventh grade, A.J. Wilbourn led the way with 12 points. Donte Jackson poured in eight points, followed by Matthew Moore and Jayden Farmer with four points each for the Bulldogs.

The girls game ended with the Lady Tigers winning in convincing fashion by a score of 38-8. Leading Caruthersville in scoring was Macy Middleton with 14 points, followed by Karmella Robinson with 12. TaBenyah Stewart sank four points, as did Latichia Hamilton, while Frankel Williams and Hannah McPeak tossed in two points each for the Lady Tigers.

For South Pemiscot. Aubrey Williams scored four points, and Honesty Fonda and Olivia House added two points each for South Pemiscot.