Photo: Hernando’s Jumarian Joyner drives toward the basket in the first half of Thursday’s Shan Whiteside Classic game at DeSoto Central. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Thursday began the three-day Shan Whiteside Sideline Cancer Basketball Classic at DeSoto Central with games at both the high school and middle school gymnasiums.
The classic is named for the first basketball coach at DeSoto Central, Shan Whiteside, who died of cancer while coaching at the school. The event annually brings area teams together and the funds raised go to cancer research and commemorates Whiteside’s contributions to the community. The gymnasium at DeSoto Central is named the Shan Whiteside Memorial Gymnasium.
Scores reported involving DeSoto County teams are mentioned below. For DeSoto Central and Hernando, the evening session of the classic became the first Region 1-7A contests for the teams.
BOYS: DESOTO CENTRAL 93, HERNANDO 54 – The Jaguars had little problem with the Tigers in the region contest to wrap up the first day of the Shan Whiteside Classic.
DeSoto Central scored the first five points of the game and ran off to a 16-2 edge with just under three minutes played in the game. The Tigers rallied and cut the margin to 25-10 DeSoto Central with two minutes left before the quarter’s end. It was 27-13 Jaguars at the quarter’s end.
The second quarter was highlighted by Hernando’s Dallas Gales knocking down a halfcourt three-pointer at the quarter’s end. DeSoto Central led 47-31 at the break.
In the second half, DeSoto Central had jumped out to a 71-49 margin by the end of the quarter and finished with the 93-54 victory with Steve Robertson answering Gales’ halfcourt shot with one of his own for the final points of the game.
For the game, DeSoto Central was led by Jacob Curtis with 16 points, followed by Blake Price and Josh Jackson with 15 points each and Cam Champion added 12 of his own. Hernando’s Jumarian Joyner led all scorers with 17 points and Landon Graham added 16.
DeSoto Central coach Blake Orman wanted to have several players contribute and said depth will be important to success going forward.
“I thought a lot of our players responded tonight,” Orman said. “We’re senior-led and player-led and that’s so much more fun than being coach-led. It’s about more than one guy and that makes for a really competitive team.”
Jaliah Kelly-Player of the Game
GIRLS: HERNANDO 56, DESOTO CENTRAL 45 – It was another night where the Kelly sisters played the lead, but instead of Fran, it was Jaliah Kelly who had the starring role in the Lady Tigers’ victory.
Jaliah Kelly scored 21 points to lead Hernando in the Region 1-7A season opener at the Shan Whiteside Classic, followed by Fran Kelly with 17.
London Armstrong upstaged both Kelly girls with 22 points for DeSoto Central, but Armstrong was the only Lady Jaguar to reach more than 10 points in the contest.
Hernando held a 21-14 lead after one quarter and held a 29-23 at halftime, despite leading by as much as 11 points during the second quarter of play. Armstrong and Jaliah Kelly had 10 points in the first half, while Fran Kelly had scored 11 points before halftime.
A three-pointer by DeSoto Central would get them within 33-30 with 3:25 left in the third quarter, but Hernando scored four straight points for a 37-30 lead with 2:15 remaining. Two late buckets from Fran Kelly gave the Lady Tigers a 46-32 edge after three quarters.
Hernando coach Blake Jones was happy to win a division game on the road.
“Games in 7A are never easy,” Jones said. “I was just glad to get the win on the road because DeSoto Central is always going to be scrappy.”
Thursday, Dec. 19
Center Hill 55, Southaven 48
Shan Whiteside Classic
DeSoto Central 93, Hernando 54
DeSoto Central: Jacob Curtis-16, Blake Price-15, Josh Jackson-15, Cam Champion-12
Hernando: Jumarian Joyner-17, Landon Graham-16
Lewisburg 49, Pontotoc 48
Horn Lake 65, Byhalia 49
Prep girls basketball
Southaven 50, Center Hill 41
Center Hill: Madison Hughes-21
Shan Whiteside Classic
Wynne, Ark. 51, Lewisburg 40
Lewisburg: Kennedy Cistrunk-8, Ciara Banks-8
Hernando 56, DeSoto Central 45
Hernando: Jaliah Kelly 21, Fran Kelly-17
DeSoto Central: Londen Armstrong-22
Olive Branch 62, North Panola 41
Prep boys soccer
Oxford 3, Southaven 0
Olive Branch 7, Grenada 0
Olive Branch: Aiden Gentry-2 goals, Jose Barahona-2 goals
Center Hill 6, Saltillo 0
Prep girls soccer
Oxford 4, Southaven 0
Saltillo 5, Center Hill 0
NBA G League – Winter Showcase
Windy City Bulls 109, Memphis Hustle 104
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West Point football coach Chris Chambless has taken a head coaching job in Alabama. Won seven state titles with the Green Wave.
