Region Game Eludes Canes, Lady Canes Record First Win

Last Friday’s region matchup with Southwest-Macon was one that Jasper County-Monticello High School boys coach Chris Pennamon said his Canes should have won.

Instead, it was a 70-63 setback in the home Region 3-AA contest.

“We came out flat,” Pennamon said. “We battled back to take a five-point lead in the third quarter and still lead by a point after the third. In the fourth quarter we lost focus again. We thought they were going to lay down and let us win.”

Kemarion Thomas led the team with 19 points while Randy Williams and Marlerio Stone both scored 15 points.

Jasper County-Monticello (4-10 overall, 1-3 in region) was just 22 percent from the foul line.

“There were some layups and free throws we should have made,” Pennamon said. “Southwest has always been an athletic team. We are just a shooter away from being a pretty good team ourselves.”

On Saturday the undefeated Social Circle High School Redskins rolled into Monticello and left town with a 74-32 win.

“They can really shoot the basketball and we have a shooter’s gym,” Pennamon said. “In fact, our gym has been called a shooter’s paradise. Their guards are bigger than ours. Social Circle is the number two team in the state for Class A. I am not going to take anything away from them.”

Trailing just 9-8 going into the second quarter, it proved tough for the Canes to get to the foul line as they did not attempt a free throw until the second quarter.

“The final score makes it look like there is a big gap between the teams,” Pennamon said. “But it really came down to one or two possessions that changed the game. We are one shooter from being a really consistent team.”

Thomas (13), Stone (11) and Williams (six) led the team but were the only three players to get in the scorebook.

“We can’t win with just three players scoring,” Pennamon said.

Tuesday’s scheduled game against Oconee County was not played due to COVID-19 and flu concerns. Pennamon said he hopes Friday’s game will be able to be played.

The Lady Canes earned their initial win of the 2021-22 season by defeating Southwest-Macon 31-21 in region action Friday at home.

The Lady Canes (1-10 overall, 1-3 in region) almost made it two wins in a row but fell 45-40 to visiting Social Circle on Saturday.

The Hurricane teams will host Dodge County on Friday beginning at 6 p.m. before traveling to Jackson High School on Saturday for action beginning at 2:30 p.m.