Jets dominate Senators in road tilt

HARVEST — Sparkman’s basketball gym, nicknamed “The Capitol” roared with a chaotic excitement.

It was the week before Black Friday which doesn’t receive the same shopping extravaganza moniker as the one the week of Thanksgiving.

High School football was over most schools in the area and the cool rain created the perfect reason to swarm the warm basketball gym.

The fans had created an environment at Sparkman that gave the feel of a Tabaco Road game over in North Carolina.

Every shot was given an explosion of cheers and every call by the officials sent one side or the other into a deep-seed rage.

Coaches were imploring their players at the top of their lungs amid the basketball mania that pulsed through the building.

The Sparkman girls had won the first game convincingly 78-47 over James Clemens which had generated so much energy for the home team as the crowd only continued to swell with anticipation of the boys game that followed.

The boys game was a different story though, as the Jets came on the road and handled Sparkman 77-52.

The game appeared already quite out of hand at 31-13 Jets when one player for JC had a moment that stood out.

The teams were on the side of the gym where the Sparkman student section was pelting the players with noise from one direction and the James Clemens student section screamed from the other side in the high stands.

There were so many people in the gym that the bleachers were spilling over in spots.

The air had become stuffy and thick from the mass of humanity all in one location.

For someone unaware of high school athletics, the prep basketball universe is difficult to top.

It is one full of drama and excitement that sucks you in like a hardwood action movie.

Friday was no different when the ball found the hands of James Clemens junior London Townsend at the top of the key.

Big number 24 looked out of place up there or at least until he let a 3-point shot fly and he hit it like he did it in his sleep.

The ball slashed the net with a whoosh that no one could hear because the crowd boomed at the gravity of the shot.

34-13 Jets just like that.

A quick turnover gave JC the ball right back and James Clemens fed the ball to Townsend in the same spot for a second time.

Surely the kid was going to brick this one? Just too much excitement.

Big Ben struck with another three as London Townsend was clutch from downtown yet again to make it 37-13.

“It was just a fun moment,” Townsend said.

“Student section was involved. My teammates were involved hyping me up. Just a great environment all around.”

For a complete breakdown of the James Clemens at Sparkman boys and girls basketball games, be sure to pick up a copy of the Madison Record on Wednesday, November 22.