French Camp enjoyed an outstanding beginning of the basketball season with two victories each by the boys and girls teams. The boys defeated Starkville Christian 44-42 and Hebron 88-59. The Lady Panthers were winners against Starkville Christian 36-28 and Hebron 45-40.
The boys start was especially impressive because the team did not have any preseason practice sessions due to most of the players also playing football. The football season ended on a Friday and the basketball season began the following Monday against Starkville Christian.
“We actually handled out the jerseys at the game Monday night,” said coach Robert Leathers. “We did some stuff over the summer so they had some idea.”
French Camp was able to get a lead against Starkville Christian in the fourth quarter. It was 44-39 before a Starkville Christian three-pointer at the buzzer resulted in a two-point victory.
French Camp was led by three of its football players. C.J. Johnson had 16 points, Darrion Smith 12 and Coleman McKenzie 9 on three 3-pointers.
French Camp broke open the Hebron game by outscoring the Eagles 24-12 in the second quarter for a 26-13 halftime lead. Johnson scored 34 points and Smith 24. But game honors went Hebron's Dash Thurman with 42 points.
GIRLS
Turnovers were a problem for the Lady Panthers, forcing French Camp to overcome halftime deficits in both games. Hebron led 23-13 at the half before being outscored by French Camp 32-17 after intermission,
“We had 29 turnovers total and 20 came in the first half. We tried to take care of it a little better in the second half,” said first-year head coach Polly LeVert.
Jordan Carter had 15 points, Abby Robertson 12 and Jasmine Bonty 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Carter scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds against Starkville Christian.
“We have not been taking care of the ball,” LeVert said. “I feel once we get settled in we'll do a better job.”
