Meridian edges A-J for fifth at Eldorado Tournament
<p class="p1">The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School boys’ basketball team was nipped by Meridian 74-73 in the fifth place game at the Eldorado Holiday Tournament Monday, Dec. 29.</p><p class="p1">A-J had a chance until the very end, when Noah Fuller missed what could have been a game-winning layup in the final second of the hard-fought contest.</p><p class="p1">The Wildcats led at every quarter break until being outscored 26-13 in the final period. The Wildcats were ahead 28-21 at the end of one quarter and 45-32 at the half. A-J held a 60-48 lead headed into the final period.</p><p class="p1">“We had a chance to win it,” A-J coach Mike Chamness said. “We’ve got to play better with the lead.” </p><p class="p1">The Wildcats were running sub par in the game, with leading scorer Zach Parr suffering a muscle injury in his leg.</p><p class="p1">Chamness said he developed the problem during soccer season and suffered a reinjury.</p><p class="p1">Parr, who hasn’t been to practice since the injury, has an MRI scheduled this week to determine his future status with the team.</p><p class="p1">Fuller led the scoring with 16 points. Dakota Earnhart added 14 points, Zane DeWitt 13, Noah Prater 12, Parr 11, Derek Harvell 5 and Garrett Nimmo 2.</p><p class="p1">The Wildcats were 34 of 64 in shot attempts from the floor, 9 of 17 from 3-point rang and 4 of 9 from the free throw line.</p><p class="p1"><strong>A-J 87, Massac County 86:</strong> The Wildcats avenged an earlier season loss to the Patriots earlier in the day with an overtime win.</p><p class="p1">Fuller scored the game-winning layup in the overtime to eke out the win.</p><p class="p1">A-J led 22-17 after one quarter and 38-35 at the half. The Wildcats held a 59-54 lead into the final quarter and were up by as many as 11 points before the Patriots stormed back. Massac County outscored the Wildcats 21-16 in the final quarter for a 75-75 tie at the end of regulation play. A-J outscored the Patriots 12-11 in the overtime session.</p><p class="p1">Parr led the way with 31 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Fuller and Earnhart scored 17 points apiece, DeWitt 10, Harvell 9 and Prater 3.</p><p class="p1">The Wildcats were 27 of 41 in shot attempts from the floor, 5 of 13 from 3-point range and 18 of 30 from the charity stripe.</p><p class="p1">The Wildcats, 7-7, are scheduled to play Friday at Du Quoin and are home Tuesday against non-conference foe Century.</p><p class="p1">Chamness said Parr plans to play this Friday; however, his final status is still unknown.</p>