Thursday sports: Hustle stop the Ignite
Photo: Sean McDermott waits to lay up a shot underneath the basket in Thursday’s game against the G League Ignite at the Landers Center. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
The Memphis Hustle ran its record to 15-5 for the regular season and have won five straight after Thursday night’s 116-114 victory over the G League Ignite at the Landers Center in Southaven in front of 977 fans.
The Ignite dropped to 7-12 with the loss, having lost three in a row and five of its last six. The Henderson, Nevada-based franchise is a team started by the NBA this year with a roster of elite players who are eligible for the NBA draft. The roster also has players in the early part of their careers, as well as NBA and G League veterans who are supposed to serve as mentors to the young players.
Kenneth Lofton Jr. led the game in scoring with 26 points for the Hustle, marking the second straight game the two-way rookie from Louisiana Tech has led Memphis in scoring. Lofton added 12 rebounds in hitting a double-double for the contest, also his second straight twin bill.
Matt Hurt hit four three-pointers and finished by 22 points and Jake LaRavia added 20.
Sidy Cissoko led the Ignite with 23 points and Scoot Henderson was next with 20 points and 14 assists. Leonard Miller grabbed 14 rebounds and finished with 18 points.
The Hustle led 33-31 after one quarter and led 68-58 at halftime. The Ignite came out of the locker room at halftime and held the Hustle to 21 points while scoring 35 to lead 93-88 entering the fourth quarter of play.
In a tight period of play, the Hustle rallied to win with a 28-point effort to the Ignite’s 21.
“We gave up six points in the paint (in the fourth quarter),” said coach Jason March. “We did a great job defensively.”
Thursday night’s contest opened a five-game homestand for the Hustle, which led the Stockton Kings by a game for the top spot in the G League’s Western Conference at the end of play Thursday.
Memphis opened the regular season after the Showcase Cup with a six-game win streak and claimed eight of nine. After being swept by Salt Lake City at the end January, the Hustle have rebounded to win six of its last seven following the two-point victory over the Ignite.
The teams play again Friday evening at 7 p.m. inside the Landers Center.
Thursday, Feb. 23
Prep baseball
- Hernando 9, Marshall Academy 2
Prep softball
- Hernando 20, Center Hill 9
- DeSoto Central 6, Lafayette (Oxford) 4
- DeSoto Central: Katelyn Short, Darby Smith 2 RBIs each, Jorja Wheeler struck out five.
- Cleveland Central 15, Horn Lake 0
- Lake Cormorant 22, Strayhorn 12
Prep tennis
- Lewisburg 7, Lake Cormorant 0
JUCO men’s basketball
- Copiah-Lincoln 82, Northwest 80
JUCO women’s basketball
- Northwest 87, Copiah-Lincoln 79
SPORTS ETC: Lewisburg baseball pitcher/infielder Gage Haley is part of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger’s Dandy Dozen for baseball this spring. The Mississippi State signee struck out 39 last season on the mound, while at the plate, Haley hit .314, drove in 28 runs and clouted two home runs.
The Clarion-Ledger also tabbed Magnolia Heights’ senior infielder Cooper Pratt as another of its Dandy Dozen.
Goalkeeper Will Thompson of Hernando High School boys’ soccer program has signed to play soccer next season at Northwest Mississippi Community College.
Kaison Saunders from this year’s Center Hill boys’ basketball team, signed to play next season at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.
And, Hernando picked up a meet win in boys’ golf.
