A free throw by Sacarro Merritt with 1.1 seconds left gave Ethel a 47-46 victory over Nanih Waiya for the Tigers' first 5-1A boys basketball victory of the season. It was a bounce back for Ethel following a 55-27 loss to French Camp three nights earlier.“We showed a lot more energy and played a lot harder,” said Coach Mitchell McCurry, who added that the Tigers cut down on mistakes. “We played together as a team.”The game was close throughout, including ties of 8-8 after one quarter and 32-32 through three periods.Merritt finished with 21 points, 11 in the fourth quarter. Dominguez Clark scored 16 points. Nanih Waiya was led by Tyquan McCully with 14 points.The McAdams game was also close for one period with the Tigers trailing 9-7 through the first eight minutes. But McAdams stretched the lead to 23-14 at the half and pulled away in the second half.“We made a lot of turnovers and they were able to get a transition going,” McCurry said.Kentrell Dotson scored 13 points and Merritt had nine for Ethel. Cameron Fleming led McAdams with 14 points and 12 rebounds.GirlsThe Lady Tigers were also successful against Nanih Waiya with a 55-42 victory.“We probably had the best start to a game we have had all season,” said Coach Corey Parish. “We took a big lead early, but got into foul trouble in the second quarter so that slowed us down a little. Then we had a sluggish third quarter, and Nanih Waiya picked their play up and really put the pressure on us. Then we got back to our style of offense and defense in the fourth and were able to pull away late.”Ethel had balanced scoring. Zakiya Dotson led with 14 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Brooke Mitchell had 13 points, Jaterika Mitchell notched12 points, Dejah Merritt logged seven points and five steals and Abbie Ellington put up five points.Channa Clemons had a game-high 15 points for Nanih Waiya.“I am proud of my girls as they are steadily improving and maturing as this season moves on,” Parish said.The Tigers and Lady Tigers played French Camp Tuesday and have back-to-back games with Noxapater Thursday on the road and Friday at home. Thursday is a makeup from games postponed January 5 when Noxapater was in quarantine.The regular season concludes next week with home games against West Lowndes Feb. 2 and road games with McAdams Feb. 5. The girls will also play McAdams at home Feb. 3 to make up last week's game postponed due to McAdams being in quarantine.Ethel will be the host for the region tournament, but it will be played at McAdams, beginning Feb. 8 for the girls and Feb. 9 for boys. Only the top four boys’ and girls’ teams will participate.
