Canes Win Region Opener

By ZACH HOUSTON

The Monticello Hurricane basketball teams traveled to Campbellton Road in Atlanta last Tuesday to take on the Southwest Atlanta Christian Warriors to open Region 4-A play.

Always a tough opponent, the Hurricanes came out hot and held off a run by the Warriors at the end of the game to pull out the tough 51-48 victory. The Hurricanes were led in scoring by junior Jamarkus Thomas, who dropped 18 points on the evening, including five three-pointers. Dereon Pennamon added 12 points, including going 5/6 from the free throw line down the stretch in the fourth quarter. Senior Malik Epps finished the evening with 11 points.

After a slow start to the second half, in which the Warriors changed up their defensive strategy and put more of a focus on Thomas, the Hurricanes made adjustments offensively and put up a big 19-point fourth quarter, holding off the Warriors, and putting the game away. The Hurricanes are now 5-9 on the season after a tough non-conference slate, and 1-0 in region 4-A, Division 1. The Hurricanes will be traveling to Atlanta again January 14 to take on W.D. Mohammed, before returning home for two weekend games.

The Lady Canes had a tougher row to hoe against an undefeated (12-0) Lady Warriors team falling by nine points and a final score of 50-41. The Lady Canes were able to keep it close and competitive, staying within five points for most of the game, but the Lady Warriors were able to pull away at the end, making foul shots as the Hurricanes tried to stop the clock as time wound down.

The Lady Canes had eight players who contributed points on the evening, and were led in scoring by freshman Jazmin Maddox, who finished with 13. Fellow freshman Kamryn Davis contributed nine, and junior Selena Harvey and sophomore Toni Gantt added five apiece.

The Lady Canes record now stands at 6-8, 0-1 in region play. They will be back in action this Friday and Saturday hosting Utopian Academy of Clayton County, and Northeast respectively at the high school.

The winter storm that came through last weekend led to the postponement of one game, and cancellation of another. The Greenforest game scheduled for the 10th will now be played on February 1, still at home.