A-J scores two wins at Eldorado
The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School boys’ basketball team finished 2-2 in the Eldorado Holiday Tournament.
Herrin 61, A-J 42: The Wildcats fell behind early and couldn’t catch up in the third-place game loss Wednesday, Dec. 29.
The Tigers led 17-11 after one quarter and 32-20 at the half. Herrin led 46-29 going into the final quarter.
Tylor Duckworth led the way with 15 points and 16 rebounds for A-J.
Brady Wright, who was named to the all-tournament team, had 5 points and 6 rebounds.
Cody Livesay added 12 points for the Wildcats. Dalton Baker had 5 points, Travis Smith 3 and Jaden Ayers 2.
The Wildcats were 14 of 44 in shot attempts from the field, 2 of 10 from 3-point range and 8 of 13 from the free throw line.
The Tigers were 26 of 42 in shot attempts from the field, 3 of 9 from 3-point range and 3 of 8 from the charity stripe.
A-J outrebounded the Tigers, 29-26.
Duckworth finished the tournament with 61 points and 54 rebounds. Wright tallied 51 points and 31 rebounds.
“We got four games in and that was our first goal,” A-J coach Mike Chamness said. “We would like to have won one on Wednesday. I thought we played well at times, but we made a lot of mental mistakes.”
Massac County 66, A-J 41: The Patriots built an early lead on their way to the semifinal win earlier Wednesday.
Massac County led 20-9 after the first quarter and were in front 34-21 at the half. The Wildcats trailed 50-28 going into the final period.
Duckworth had 15 points and 11 rebounds to lead A-J. Wright added 14 points and 8 rebounds. Baker had 6 points, Livesay 5 and Caleb Mixen 1.
A-J was 14 of 40 in shot attempts from the floor, 1 of 9 from 3-point range and 10 of 15 from the free throw line.
The Patriots were 27 of 54 from the field, 2 of 9 from 3-point range and 6 of 16 from the free throw line.
A-J 68, Carrier Mills 64: Duckworth scored 19 points and had 15 rebounds to lead the Wildcats to the quarterfinal win Tuesday, Dec. 28.
Wright added 19 points and 12 rebounds. Livesay had 14 points, Baker 7, Smith 5 and Brady Carter 4.
A-J was 12 of 25 in shot attempts from the floor, 5 of 18 from 3-point range and 27 of 39 from the free throw line.
The Wildcats were 16 of 27 in shot attempts from the floor, 8 of 22 from 3-point range and 8 of 10 from the charity stripe.
A-J 50, West Frankfort 35: Wright led the way with 13 points and 5 rebounds in the first-round win Monday, Dec. 27.
Duckworth added 12 points and 12 rebounds. Livesay had 10 points, Carter 5, Cody Garver 3, Ayers 2 and Smith 1. Baker had 4 points and 5 rebounds.
The Wildcats were 13 of 34 in shot attempts from the field, 3 of 11 from 3-point range and 15 of 21 from the free throw line.
The Redbirds were 10 of 25 in shot attempts from the field, 4 of 18 from 3-point range and 3 of 7 from the charity stripe.
A-J, 7-7, is scheduled to play Friday at home against Carterville and Tuesday at home against Century.