Huntsville rolls past Jets for N2Hoops title
HARVEST – James Clemens basketball coach Frankie Sullivan wants to be clear – it’s way too early to worry about the team’s future this season.
Sullivan told his team as much Wednesday night following a lopsided loss to one of the state’s top Class 7A teams. The message the Jets coach had following a frustrating 88-40 loss to Huntsville in the championship game of the N2Hoops Invitational at Sparkman was simple.
James Clemens, also 7A, will get better.
“You mark my words – at the end of day we’ll be there,” said Sullivan, still in a cast and using a leg walker following a preseason motorcycle crash. “When the time is right, we’ll be there. As I say every year, people can say what they want to say. At the end of the year, James Clemens will be there. We’ll find a way.’’
The Jets fell into an early deficit against Huntsville and never recovered. Meanwhile, the Panthers, who bolted to a 28-10 lead at the end of the first quarter, never eased off the accelerator.
It was 46-18 at halftime and 76-33 entering the fourth quarter. Huntsville coach Christian Schweers began pulling starters before the third period ended.
The Panthers, who advanced to the final four last season, fea- ture five players who have signed up to play in college at schools varying from Division II to the Southeastern Conference.
Afterward, Sullivan remained steadfast.
“Losses like this we take as a learning curve,” he said. “That’s for everybody early in the season.’’
Brayden Rivers (UNC Asheville) sank seven 3-pointers en route to 27 points for the Panthers (8-0). Simon Walker, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard who signed with Auburn, and Hudson Gossett had 11. Other signees for Huntsville include JD Gossett (Lipscomb), Josh Bowman (Chattanooga) and Eli Stapler (Lee).
JD Gossett was named tournament Most Valuable Player.
For James Clemens (6-4), which advanced to the regional finals last season and the final four in 2022, Isaiah Cleaves led the way with 10 points. Jets Noah Gorman and London Townsend were named All-Tournament.
