Jaguars hand out losses to Jets
Trai James drives down court on the way to the hoop racking up points with the basket and a foul. RECORD PHOTOS/CHARLEY GAINES
By CHARLEY GAINES / FOR THE RECORD
HUNTSVILLE – James Clemens basketball players took two heartbreaking hits Tuesday night at J.O. Johnson High School after both the women’s and men’s teams lost thrilling games that both came down to the final seconds.
The lady Jets lost their game 44-41. The men lost against the J.O. Johnson Jaguars 64-60.
The men’s game started off well enough with James Clemens leading the Jaguars through the first quarter. Johnson was able to move the ball quickly around the court, but they were unable to sink shots enabling James Clemens to rebound and take possession. On the other end of the court, the Jets had the opposite situation. The Jaguars were quick on defense, but the Jets were able to sink shot after shot putting them ahead of Johnson by 12 points at one point during the first half.
The tides started changing at the end of the second quarter as the crowd came alive and the Jaguars capitalized on their cheers. The Jets started slowing down as Johnson’s defense kept chipping away at their confidence. Johnson’s momentum continued into the second half as they began finding the net and breaking down the Jets’ offense. James Clemens’ accuracy kept them alive throughout the game, but the team became more disconnected with each other as the clock ran out.
Trai James (3) had a big game with 27 total points for the Jets as he hammered his way down the court for fast break aways several times, and Zachary Hancock (34) and Bradley Belt (5) each contributed 10 points against the Jaguars. Marcus Lacey (23) had a huge dunk in the second half closing the gap in the score. The yo-yo effect on points scored literally kept fans on their feet as officers had to push back the crowd several times.
Fouls got the better of the men from James Clemens, ultimately costing them the game in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. Johnson broke down the court and the Jets make it just in time to catch the foul as the ball went through the hoop for two.
