Wildcats fall to 5-4 with two recent losses
The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School boys’ basketball team lost a pair of games in recent action.
Following are game summaries:
Massac County 73, A-J 56: The visiting Wildcats couldn’t recover from a first quarter deficit in the loss Saturday, Dec. 18.
The Patriots went on top 12-7 at the outset and were ahead 19-12 at the end of the opening quarter. Massac County held a 34-31 halftime lead and built a 58-48 advantage after three quarters. The Wildcats were outscored 15-8 in the final period.
Tylor Duckworth had a game-high 30 points and 12 rebounds to lead A-J. Brady Wright added 11 points and 6 rebounds. Cody Livesay had 10 points, including a 3-pointer. Dalton Baker had 3 points and Travis Smith 2.
The Wildcats were 22 of 42 in shot attempts from the floor, 1 of 7 from 3-point range and 9 of 15 from the free throw line.
Malcom Amos had 27 points to lead the Patriots, who were 31 of 45 in shot attempts from the floor, 3 of 9 from 3-point range and 5 of 9 from the charity stripe.
Sparta 61, A-J 56: The Wildcats cut the lead to two points in the final quarter but could get no closer as the visiting Bulldogs pulled away in the Southern Illinois River-to-River Mississippi Division Conference Friday, Dec. 17.
With a little over one minute remaining, A-J trailed 54-52 and had to foul to catch up as the Bulldogs hit a pair of crucial free throws to seal the win.
The Wildcats trailed 22-15 at the end of one quarter and 35-22 at the half. A-J was down 46-38 going into the final quarter and outscored Sparta 18-15 in the final frame in the come-back-bid that fell short.
Duckworth had 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead A-J. Wright added 18 points and 8 rebounds. Livesay had 8 points and 2 rebounds. Baker added 5 points and Smith 2.
The Wildcats were 20 of 31 in shot attempts from the field, 3 of 12 from 3-point range and 7 of 13 from the free throw line.
The Patriots were 22 of 44 in shot attempts from the field, 2 of 5 from 3-point range and 11 of 16 from the charity stripe.
A-J, 5-4, is scheduled to play in the Eldorado Tournament Dec. 27-29.