Bob Jones ends season on losing note to Sparkman, 60–51
Ryan Dupree (3) drives the ball against Sparkman in the Class 7A, Area 8 tournament Feb. 5. The Patriots fell 60–51, ending their season. (Record Photo/Nick Sellers)
By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer
MADISON – Bob Jones got off to a slow start against the Sparkman Senators in the Area tournament at James Clemens Feb. 5, trailing 8–0 until midway through the first period. The Patriots fought back before Sparkman gained an 18–8 lead at the end of the first period and a 27–21 lead at halftime.
Sparkman built two separate10-point leads in the fourth period, 46–36 and 52–42, until Bob Jones clawed its way back to within three points with around one minute to go.
Missed shots, turnovers and eventually two technical fouls doomed the Patriots, and Sparkman rode its lead to a nine-point victory to continue its season against Hazel Green in the Area championship.
The Senators went 9-22 from beyond the arc, while Bob Jones hit 4 of 12. Bob Jones had a higher percentage from the free-throw line, but several key from the charity stripe late kept Bob Jones behind.
“Fifteen of 23,” Bob Jones head coach Graham Aderholt said of th Patriots’ line for free throws. “It’s so important. If you get free throws of 75 or 80 percent, that’s not great, but it’s pretty good and it’ll give you a chance to win a lot of games. We’ve been struggling offensively pretty much all season consistently from the free-throw line.”
Dalton Barkley led Bob Jones with 15 points, while fellow seniors Ryan Dupree and Deandre Douglas both had 10 points and Jonathan Moss chipped in nine.
Sparkman’s Brandon Miller led all players with 23 points, while teammate Rashawn Green finished with 19. Justin Benson had six points for the Senators.
With no sub-regional games in the new Class 7A, a win over Sparkman would have earned the Patriots to Wallace State for the playoffs.
“The seniors have done a lot for this program,” Aderholt said. “Last year we got to the Elite Eight; we were hoping to get back there but unfortunately we didn’t. But I know the seniors are proud of the effort this year.”
