NHS SWEEPS SHS AT UAFS

Northside senior Anthony Travis set the tone for how things were going to be in the Grizzlies’ game Friday night against crosstown rival Southside. Travis scored two early baskets as Northside jumped out to a 6-0 lead. Then, he came up with a big block on the defensive end. The Grizzlies continued to build their advantage as they never trailed en route to a 65-30 win against the Mavericks at the Stubblefield Center. It wasn’t so much the scoring and sizable lead which pleased Northside coach Eric Burnett. Instead, he immediately singled out his team’s defensive effort, which was epitomized by Travis’ block early on in the game. “I’ve been wanting us to play some defense,” Burnett said. “We hadn’t been playing really good defense about the last two and a half weeks and I don’t know why, and so that’s been the focus point over the last week. “I thought I saw everybody out on the floor trying to move their feet, stopping their man, communicating on defense, rebounding, getting on the floor after the ball, so I was pleased to see that.” Southside got within eight points late in the first quarter. But Javion Releford hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds; then immediately came up with a steal, which set up a basket from Semonte Henderson as the Grizzlies built an 18-5 advantage. “That was some big momentum to finish off that first quarter,” Burnett said. Northside (13-8, 4-3) continued to be relentless in the second quarter. Henderson had a pair of baskets at the outset of the quarter. Later, Jacob Joe launched a 3 and on the next possession, a Grizzly fast break led to a dunk from Jaylin Williams, making it 32-11. Northside went on to lead as many as 27 points before halftime, 41-14, on a 3 from Jermualle Norwood. The Grizzlies ended up leading 41-15 at halftime and also were up 60-28 through three quarters. Williams led all scorers with 14 points, 10 of those coming in the first half. Taye Gatewood had 10 points to lead the Mavericks (5-15, 0-7). Both the Grizzlies and Mavericks will be off on Tuesday before resuming the second half of 6A-Central play on Friday, Feb. 1. Northside 67, Southside 34 GIRLS — The Lady Bears finished off the first half of 6A-Central play undefeated, and continue to remain undefeated on the season, as they led from the outset Friday. “I thought our kids did what they were expected to do,” Northside coach Rickey Smith said. “They came out and they played hard early and hit some shots and shared the basketball. ... I think they did what they were supposed to do, which allowed us an opportunity to play a lot of kids.” Northside (19-0, 7-0) jumped out to a 7-0 lead a minute in, as Tracey Bershers converted a pair of put-back shots, including one as she was fouled. Bershers then finished off the three-point play. Later in the opening quarter, Sara Bershers hit two 3's, the latter extending Northside’s lead to 18, 23-5. The Lady Bears finished the quarter with four more points, two Jazz Coleman free throws and a basket from Eriel West which made it 27-5. Northside then began the second quarter on a 9-0 run. Quineisha Tillery had the first six points in that stretch; then Tamia Knauls capped it with a 3 as the lead grew to 31 points, 36-5. The Lady Bears led 38-9 at halftime and 56-23 through three quarters. “I’m proud of the kids that came off the bench; they get after us every day in practice and those are the most important minutes on the team right there because they go against our starters every day, and that’s not easy,” Smith said. “They play hard and they’re improving. ... They did a good job.” Sara Bershers and West had 10 points apiece to lead Northside, with Bershers scoring eight of those points in the first quarter. For Southside (0-17, 0-7), both Erin Graham and Reagan Graham finished with nine points.

NHS SWEEPS SHS AT UAFS

BUCK RINGGOLD

Times Record | 1/26/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Jamie Mitchell