Tough tests continue for South Pem hoops
TOM DAVIS
The South Pemiscot High School varsity boy’s basketball team had an extended layoff through the holidays but finally got back into action last week with three games, two of which were victories.
That busyness will continue this week, as the Bulldogs have three more games, starting with today’s test at Hayti (5:30 p.m.).
“January is jam-packed,” Bulldog coach Jordan McGowan said recently. “We’re probably going to practice only one or two times this month due to playing games.”
South Pemiscot (6-1) is ranked No. 9 in Class 2, which isn’t much higher than the Indians (8-1), who are just two spots behind the Bulldogs in the latest poll.
“We’re going to be playing state-ranked opponents throughout our whole schedule,” McGowan said.
That arduous trek began last week with a road game at Class 1 No. 4-ranked Risco, who topped South Pemiscot 79-70. However, McGowan’s kids bounced back quickly with an impressive 63-56 win over an eight-win Bakersfield team.
South Pemiscot will face Caruthersville (6-7) on Wednesday in Steele (7:30 p.m.). The Bulldogs will visit Class 2 No. 12-ranked Campbell (11-2) and Class 3 No. 8-ranked Scott City (9-2) while hosting Senath-Hornersville (8-3) and Cooter (9-3), all in the next 16 days.
“We’re going to have to get in shape,” McGowan said of his team, which hasn’t played a full schedule this season.
The Bulldogs have just one senior (Torrell Boyd), but that hasn’t kept them from achieving success.
South Pemiscot is coming off a trip to the MSHSAA Class 2 Final Four last spring, and McGowan has his team defending at a high level already via a tenacious mixing press.
“(South Pemiscot) can turn up the defensive pressure on you to where you can’t get open,” veteran Risco coach Brandon Blankenship said following his team’s recent win.
South Pemiscot utilized seven players against Risco, including junior Logan Southern, who McGowan praised for his defensive tenacity.
“I thought Logan did a great job on (Tiger junior forward Owen Fortner),” McGowan said.
McGowan referred to Bulldog sophomore Ty’Riquis Campbell as his team’s “best defender,” while junior Jaterion Smith is effective on the glass.