With two easy wins last week, McAdams boys basketball is assured of qualifying for the MHSAA 1A playoffs and is in line for the top seed in the Region 6-1A tournament. The Bulldogs defeated Noxapater 90-54 and Sebastopol 73-45 to improve to 7-1 in Region 6-1A and 16-2 overall.
McAdams led Noxapater 23-12 after one quarter, 59-30 at the half and 88-35 through three quartera.
Fourteen players saw court time for the Bulldogs and 11 scored, led by Tyrick Davis and Jacquese Greer each with 16 points. Cameron Fleming scored 13 points and Gavin Brown had 11, including three of four on 3-point shots.
The Bulldog had a big third quarter against Sebastopol with 33 points to stretch a 35-25 halftime lead to 68-37. Davis had 28 points, Fleming and Jayveon Fleming 10 each.
The easy wins gave coach Kenyon Ross an opportunity to give significant playing time to reserves. “It helps to give them some minutes. You never know when you are going to need them.”
McAdams and Leake County are tied atop the region, each 7-1. They split their games, the Bulldogs winning 79-58 at home, but suffering a 65-59 loss in the rematch at Walnut Grove.
The Bulldogs and Gators are assured of finishing the regular season first and second to earn opening round byes in the region tournament at Leake County the week beginning February 6. That assures they will finish no worse then fourth in the tournament to qualify for the playoffs.
McAdams played French Camp Tuesday and will complete the regular season at Ethel Friday. Win both and the Bulldogs will be the top seed for the region tournament.
Davis, Fleming and Greer have been a dynamic scoring trio all season, but a team doesn't win 16 of 18 without contributions from their teammates.
“A lot of people just look at points, but you have to play defense,” Ross said. “Our calling card is going to be defense.”
Girls
The Lady Bulldogs had a big fourth quarter in a 56-45 victory over Noxapater and a sluggish first quarter in a 50-41 loss to Sebastopol.
The Noxapater game was tied 31-31 after three quarters before the Lady Bulldogs outscored the Lady Tigers 25-14 in the final period.
“We took advantage of free throws,” said coach Ashley Brown.
Ameri Gadson and Kenady Cross both had a big second half for McAdams. Gadson scored 25 points, 20 in the second half, and converted on six of seven free throws. Cross scored 16 points, 12 in the second half.
McAdams trailed Sebastopol 14-6 after one quarter. Gibson scored 22 points, but she was the only Lady Bulldog in double figures.
“We started slow. The whole game was slow until the fourth quarter,” Brown said. “We had only one person shooting. We need to find more shooters.”
The results left the Lady Bulldogs fourth in 6-1A with a 4-4 record.
