Byhalia-Byers split contests


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Byhalia-Byers split contests

By CLAUDE VINSON
Sports Editor

Photo by Lawrence White

Intracounty rivals

Battling for the basketball are Lady Indian Teniesha Beard and Lady Lion Symone Gorman. At left is Alexis Hardaway. At right is Crystal Rayford.

The Byers Lions and the Byhalia Indians clashed early in the brand new season. Byers made the short jaunt across county Tuesday night of last week to test the 2008-09 Byhalia teams.

The Lady Indians started the contest trying to stand up to the Lady Lions in speed. The premise was short lived when the Lady Indians found themselves down 8-2 in a very short span in the first quarter.

They didn’t lose poise or focus. They managed to pull to within one point with 1:07 left in the opening period. Byhalia even went up by one on a shot by Laporshea Malone. But Rachel Jones brought Byers back with an old fashioned trey to make it 13-10 at the buzzer.

The Jones girls (Rachel and Amanda) really sparked in the second quarter, aided by close-in play from Symone Gorman. They pumped the lead to 31-11 at one point and then cooled a little to take a 41-25 margin into intermission.

The Lady Indians showed some mettle in the third. They got some strong play from Crystal Rayford, Jessica Reynolds and Devora Tuggles. They moved the score to within 16 points after the end of three. But it was not enough to slow the Byers machine.

Coach Jason Thompson substituted at will in the fourth quarter but the young Lady lions carried on the scoring tradition. It was a 75-54 victory.

Rachel Jones led the floor with 20, followed by Amanda Jones with 18 (which included a trio of treys) and Gorman with 15. Tuggles led the Lady Indians with 13, while Rayford and Reynolds had 11 each.

The Lady Lions remained unbeaten

Byers-Byhalia boys

The host Indians jumped out to a quick 12-4 lead and then Mario Parker slammed one from close up and the overflow crowd never quite settled down after that. The Indians were moving fast, committing a bunch of infractions but they were putting up points. They had a 30-17 edge at the end of the first quarter.

Finding a teammate
Byhalia’s Jyrome Richmond (32) passes off to teammate Xavier Wolfe (right) as Byers’ Tedarian Bryson plays defense.

Their accuracy was right on and it continued until about midway through the second frame and then it went cold. They saw a sizeable lead dwindle. The Lions were beginning to make their move. They were just 12 points back at halftime.

Photo by Lawrence White

Lion vs. Indian

Demarius Scott of Byers (right) is closely guarded by Byhalia’s Courtney Warren.

The Indians brought some of the heat back to their shots in the third and enjoyed a commanding lead of 58-32 when the third ended. The Lions managed to put up a total of 15 points in the two middle frames.

The game was completely taken away from Byers in fourth. Tedarian Bryson and Demarius Scott spent most of the final quarter jockeying for position and battling for rebounds. The Indians cruised to a 79-47 victory.

Kenyatta Jones led the Indians with 21 points. Jermone Marion hit for 17 and Courtney Warren was next with 14. Mario Parker scored nine.

Andre Jones led Byers with 10 and Jarvis Ware added nine.

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