Canes Fall in Close Region Game

The Jasper County-Monticello High School varsity boys basketball team battled until the end but fell short on the road against Northeast-Macon 63-59.

Saturday’s game was a 3-AA contest as the Hurricanes are now 1-6 overall an 1-1 in region play. Senior Landon Bonner paced the team with 28 points.

“We played well for three quarters,” coach Chris Pennamon said. “We just weren’t able to finish the deal. I think our youth and inexperience in certain situations played a factor.”

Austin Cumbuss and Cedrion Stone also finished in double figures.

“Overall, I am proud of the team,” Pennamon said. “They played hard and didn’t quit. They tried to execute the game plan. We were short-handed in some positions. Everyone did their jobs. We just didn’t have enough at the end to hold on. In the second half we didn’t have the same intensity and a lot of that goes back to inexperience.”

The day after the contest Pennamon learned that his team would be quarantined due to COVID-19 concerns. Tuesday’s scheduled region game against Washington will be played at a later date.

The quarantine means no games, no practices and no in-person school for all players and coaches. The earliest the team would be able to compete again will be next week.

The junior varsity boys basketball team is also currently quarantined.

“We did gain some confidence in the Northeast game so we are eager to get back on the court as soon as we can,” Pennamon said. “If we have enough players and the coaches are available, we will battle again.”