Jags wallop Wildcats in Spear’s home debut
by Jeff Armstrong—jeff@griffindailynews.com
Nov 28, 2012 | 745 views | 0 0 comments | 5 5 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Spalding High’s Markee Dickerson (12) during a game last season at home against Stockbridge. Dickerson led all scorers with 12 points Tuesday night in their 2012-13 home opener against Locust Grove.
Spalding High’s Markee Dickerson (12) during a game last season at home against Stockbridge. Dickerson led all scorers with 12 points Tuesday night in their 2012-13 home opener against Locust Grove.
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The Spalding High Jaguars basketball team jumped out to a 16-7 first-quarter lead and didn’t look back, blitzing the Locust Grove Wildcats 69-28 Tuesday night in Region 4-AAAA crossover action at Spalding High.

The Jags won their home opener and the home debut of new Spalding head coach and Griffin native Kemo Spear. Division B Spalding remains undefeated so far at 2-0 overall and 1-0 in region play while Division A Locust Grove falls to 0-4, 0-1.

Spalding jumped on the young Wildcats early and often, using ball pressure to force turnovers and bad shots. Those plays led to easy baskets for the Jags, who took a commanding 37-13 lead at halftime.

“Our goal is to speed people up by using pressure defense. It’s the way I played basketball and I want my guys to do the same thing,” said Spear. “We are 2-0 now and I think the guys have confidence. Last year they lost their first 7 games so I think they are responding well to me.”

Locust Grove didn’t respond well to Spalding’s pressure all game long, as the Jags held LG to single digits in each quarter while Spalding had double-figure scoring in each quarter except the fourth. Spear had no problem substitutng in waves on the Wildcats and that definitely wore them down as they missed shots and fell behind 60-19 heading into the fourth quarter. And Spalding was extremely efficient from the field, taking good shots and making most of them.

Spalding senior Markee Dickerson, a starter last year, came off the bench to lead all scorers with 14 points in three quarters of action. Phillip Goodrum and Cameron Johnson chipped in 7 points each for the Jags, which had every player except one score on Tuesday.

“It feels good to be 2-0, but we’ve got a long way to go. Coach Spear keeps us on the right track and he wants us to get better,” Dickerson said. “It was nice to get a win for him in our home opener.”

Spalding doesn’t play Stockbridge Friday due to the Stockbridge football team hosting a state playoff game that night. That game is now moved to Saturday, Jan. 12. The Jags get back into action Saturday, Dec. 1 against Walton at 7:30 p.m.

SPALDING BOYS

Date |Opponent |Time/Score

11/24 |Jackson |W 58-44

11/27 | L. GROVE* |W 69-28

12/1 |WALTON |7:30

12/4 |E. LANDING* |7:30

12/7 |WOODLAND* |8:30

12/11 |DUTCHTOWN* |7:30

12/14 |Walton |7:30

12/22 |Newnan |3:30

12/27 |Meriw Tour |TBA

12/28 |Meriw Tour |TBA

12/29 |Meriw Tour |TBA

1/4 |Riverdale* |7:30

1/5 |TRI-CITIES |4:30

1/8 |JONESBORO* | 7:30

1/11 |Griffin* |8:30

1/12 |Stockbridge* |8:30

1/15 |N. Clayton* |7:30

1/18 |UPSON-LEE* |7:30

1/22 |RIVERDALE* |7:30

1/25 |Jonesboro* |7:30

1/26 |GRIFFIN* |7:30

2/1 |N. CLAYTON* |7:30

2/5 |Upson-Lee* |7:30

*Region 4-AAAA games

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