MA defeats BJHS for tourney title

Amara Mayers drives to the basket during the Mustangs' Times Ladies Classic championship victory over host Bob Jones.

Madison Academy finished 10-of-10 from the free throw line in the final quarter Thursday to hold off Bob Jones, 52-40, for the Mustangs’ first Times Ladies Classic title.

“I’m really proud of our team,” said Madison Academy head coach Brian Privett. “That was great team basketball.”

The Mustangs jumped out front early in the game, but the Patriots came storming back to take a 16-14 first quarter lead.

KeKe Fletcher gave the Mustangs the lead on a 3 midway through the second quarter, and Madison Academy led 29-27 at the half.

“They hit some big shots against us,” Bob Jones head coach Tim Miller said. “KeKe had at least two big threes, and I didn’t anticipate that. We didn’t do the things necessary defensively to win the ballgame.”

“We didn’t play smart basketball,” he added.

The Mustangs pulled away in the third quarter, capped by a three at the buzzer by freshman Sierra Jones.

“For a freshman to have that clock awareness is huge,” Privett said.

The Patriots cut the lead to five in the final quarter, but Mustangs’ hot shooting from the free thrown line sealed the victory.

Junior Lydia McGee, who had a “breakout” tournament according to Privett, had 16 points, while Amara Mayers had a game-high 18 points.

“If you’re going to beat Bob Jones, it’s going to take more than one player and that’s what we did,” Privett said. “I thought Amara played with great composure.”

Privett also credited the play of Morgan Hanback, who he said played a key role in the Mustangs’ semifinal and championship victory.

“This is a special group, and they have to decide what history they want to write,” Privett said.

For Bob Jones, Jasmine Jones had a team-high 12 points and nine rebounds, followed by Rikeyah McKinnon with 11 points.

Thos named to the All-Tournament team were:

-Lydia McGee, Madison Academy

-Nyla Johnson, Madison Academy

-KeKe Fletcher, Madison Academy

-Jasmine Jones, Bob Jones

-Rikeyah McKinnon, Bob Jones

-Katie Colson, Bob Jones

-Dominique Patrick, Erwin

-Shatavia Farris, Carver

-Delisa Madry, Austin

-Teosha Ray, Austin

-Ashley Eiland, Jeff Davis

-Jatoria Carter, Jeff Davis