Varsity Canes Win Season Opener

The Jasper County-Monticello High School boys basketball team ushered in a new season with a 39-36 home win against Oglethorpe County on Saturday.

Kemarion Thomas scored 17 points while Eli Terrell added seven and MJ Stone and Geralynn Benton finished with five each.

Malik Epps and Jacarian Grier both scored two points.

“To get your first win is always good because you get the monkey off your back,” coach Chris Pennamon said. “There are some who have said they didn’t think we would win a game all year. We already have one after our first game.”

While his team played “scrappy” against the Patriots, the Canes coach said there is still plenty of work to do.

“We just couldn’t make any jumpers,” Pennamon said. “We might have made one the whole game. We let a 10-point lead slip away to one point. We held on and got the win. For it being the first game without a scrimmage, I was happy.”

Jasper County-Monticello had 21 turnovers, a number which has to decrease, their coach said.

“You can’t beat many quality teams with that many turnovers,” Pennamon said. “I told our players that Oglethorpe County will be improved the next time we play. It is always tough to play in their gym. We missed too many layups and free throws as well.

The Canes (1-0) will face Oglethorpe County in a rematch on the road December 3 at 7:30 p.m.

“Playing them back-to-back will be tough,” Pennamon said. “They have time to prepare for what we did in the first game.