Mize basketball swept Clarkdale on the opening night of its JC Allen Basketball Tournament. The three-day tournament features 12 teams from six different high schools. The schools include Stringer, Raleigh, Mize, Clarkdale, Taylorsville and Enterprise Clarke. Here is how Thursday night’s games unfolded:
(Girls) Mize 52, Clarkdale 31.
Clarkdale opened the girls’ hardwood contest with a two-point basket Thursday night inside Mize High School’s gymnasium. Mize retaliated with a 6-0 run to take the lead they would never surrender en route to a 52-31 victory.
“We came out here and played our best,” said Mize girls head coach Angie Holifield. “Our girls worked as a team tonight, and I’m proud of them.”
Clarkdale pulled within one point following a three-point play by Kacie Jackson. Her contested basket and free throw with 6:22 to go in the second period made the score 10-9. Jackson made baskets on the night while being fouled. She led Clarkdale with 28 of its 31 points.
Nearly two minutes later, Mize began to separate themselves from Clarkdale. The Lady Bulldogs did so on six-straight points off steals and turnovers.
“Our team played together and did so unselfishly,” said Holifield. “We were able to pass the ball around, force turnovers and correct our mistakes.”
Mize girls outscored Clarkdale 26-19 in the second half win their opening game of the three-day tournament.
Jadjaih Brown led Mize with 15 points. Jasmine Posey also finished in double digits with 13.
The Lady Bulldogs improve to 5-2 on the season.
(Boys) Mize 66, Clarkdale 38.
Mize boys capped the night off with a 66-38 win over Clarkdale in Day 1 of their three-day basketball tournament. Mize improves to 5-1 on the season with the win according to Maxpreps.com.
“I thought we shot the ball well, especially in the first half,” said Mize head coach Kyle Magee. “But we didn’t play defense as good as I’d like. We have to be more disciplined, cutting off driving lanes, and blocking out.
“But overall we played well. The most important thing is we responded. We talked a lot about defense at halftime.”
It worked too. Mize held Clarkdale scoreless in the third period while pushing ahead 17 points in the quarter, 61-28. The Bulldogs made three three-point shots back-to-back-to-back in the quarter to blow open its lead. Dylan Reeves made two of the three three’s. He led the team with 26 and was perfect from the line, knocking down seven free throws.
“[Defense] was our focus at the break,” said Magee. “I did notice us doing a better job of that in the second half. We made [Clarkdale] earn what they got.”
There were seven lead changes in the first period. Clarkdale came out on top in the quarter of play, 16-15. Mize answered in the second period, outscoring their opponent 29-12 to pull out in front.
Mize boys will play Enterprise-Clarke Friday night at 7:45 p.m. in the nightcap game for Day 2.
