Bob Jones, James Clemens play it close

Jaydon Hill goes in with the left hand against James Clemens (Record Photo/Kris Kasprzak)

MADISON- Bob Jones got a career game from Deonte Gray Friday night as the 5-foot-9 inch senior led the way as the Patriots claimed a 51-49 road win at James Clemens. Bob Jones is now 2-0 in area play (6-7 overall) while James Clemens falls to 0-2 (4-3).

Gray scored 11 points in the fourth quarter as Bob Jones wiped out a 6 point James Clemens lead in the final four minutes. Still despite two turnovers and two intentional fouls, the Jets had a chance to win but Jordan Fletcher’s three rattled out and Bob Jones students stormed the court, their first win at their rival in three seasons.

Gray, an unlikely hero, wasn’t even on the team last year at Bob Jones but first year Coach Luther Tiggs has resurrected his career.

“Deonte, he hasn’t played in a couple of years so he is trying to find himself and tonight he played an unbelievable floor game. He didn’t force anything. He got in a zone. I give credit to his teammates. We talked about it, keep riding him and they got him the ball and he kept making plays. We see it in practice. He put us on his back and pretty much willed us to a victory,” Tiggs said.

Gray finished with 25 points and Milkyle Stewart added 8 for Bob Jones. James Clemens was led by Bradley Belt with 15 and Jordan Fletcher with 13.

“We knew it was going to be a tough close game,” Bob Jones Coach Luther Tiggs said. “Anytime two rivals play you expect that. This game is so huge. It means so much to the community and to our administration. I wanted our players to settle down and try to execute. They made a run. We were down seven at the half but our kids never quit. We finished tonight. We’ve got to make free throws. It came down to one possession.”

The game was tied at 11 after one quarter but James Clemens surged ahead as Jarquez Lawson came off the bench and scored four points on offensive rebounds and the Jets had their biggest lead at 21-13.

A three by Isaiah Hatchett cut the lead to 27-20 at half.

Belt got hot and scored nine in the third quarter but Gray started to heat up with a three pointer after a Jets turnover. Demontrez Brown cut the Jets lead to one heading to the fourth quarter.

James Clemens turned up the defense and got 2 turnovers on a 6-0 run to go up 46-40.

Gray then proceeded to score 11 straight points to put Bob Jones ahead 51-47. He hit a rainbow three, two free throws, and another three. James Clemens scored only 2 points in the last 2 minutes of the game.

Chase Fiddler was in and out of the lineup during the game for Bob Jones.

“Chase is our go-to guy but he struggled offensively and we sat him to try to get his attention,” Tiggs said. “He came back in the final three minutes and found ways to help us win.”