Tuesday sports: Fayette Ware beats back Olive Branch
Photo: Reece Garrison of Olive Branch (13) lays up a shot while being defended by Fayette Ware’s Tarecous Stevens (15) during Tuesday’s contest in Olive Branch. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Despite 23 points from King George, the Fayette Ware Wildcats boys basketball team defeated the Olive Branch Conquistadors 65-59 Tuesday night in Olive Branch.
The Quistors opened the game with a 14-9 lead in the first quarter, but the Wildcats rallied for a 34-27 lead at halftime and the home team couldn’t seem to recover after that.
Fayette Ware kept the lead throughout the second half and while Olive Branch got as close as five points, the Wildcats never let them get any closer. Fayette Ware held a 54-46 lead after three quarters on their way to the win. Olive Branch was held to just two field goals and 13 total points in the final quarter of play.
After George, Reece Garrison finished with 10 points.
Quistors coach Eric Rombaugh admitted it was not the best shooting night for his team.
“They’re a scrappy, hard nosed and tough group,” Rombaugh said of the Wildcats. “We didn’t match that tonight and we shot the ball terribly.”
Fayette Ware was led by Tarecous Stevens, who finished with a game-high 29 points.
(G) Olive Branch 60, Fayette Ware 58: The Lady Quistors moved to 9-3 for the season with a heart-stopping 60-58 win over the Wildcats in the first game of the evening.
Fayette Ware took the early lead at 12-9 after one quarter but the Lady Quistors tied the game at 21-21 halfway through the second quarter. Olive Branch continued the offensive push, scoring 12 of the last 14 points in the half for a 35-25 halftime lead.
In the second half, Olive Branch had built a 46-34 lead and led 53-40 heading into the final quarter of play. That’s when Fayette Ware started a comeback, quickly getting within 53-47 just 1:15 into the final quarter. Halfway through the quarter, it was 55-51 Olive Branch but the Lady Wildcats tied the game at 58-58, before the Lady Quistors hit a final basket for the two-point victory.
The closeness of the contest was accepted as a positive because of how it might be preparing the team for the rest of the season, said Olive Branch coach Jason Thompson.
“When we get our experience like this before Christmas, it’s not a bad thing,” Thompson said. “I would have preferred it came a little easier but sometimes it’s the hand you’re dealt. You just have to play it and deal with it.”
Gabrielle Bowen led the Lady Quistors with 25 points, followed by Vadaija Pimpton with 17. Olive Branch improved to 9-5 with the victory.
Monday, Dec. 16
Prep boys basketball
- Horn Lake 67, Memphis Fairley 65
Tuesday, Dec. 17
Prep boys basketball
- Center Hill 43, South Panola 40
- DeSoto Central 70, Booneville 63
- Lake Cormorant 49, Lewisburg 44
- Fayette Ware 65, Olive Branch 59
- Magnolia Heights 62, Marshall Academy 50
Prep girls basketball
- South Panola 66, Center Hill 43
- Center Hill: Madison Hughes-10 points.
- Booneville 45, DeSoto Central 23
- Olive Branch 60, Fayette Ware 58
- Lake Cormorant 49, Lewisburg 30
- Magnolia Heights 60, Marshall Academy 29
Prep boys soccer
- Center Hill 2, Olive Branch 1
- Saltillo 3, Lake Cormorant 1
- Hernando 1, Horn Lake 0
- Hernando: Parks Raffety-1 goal
Prep girls soccer
- Center Hill 6, Olive Branch 0
- Saltillo 7, Lake Cormorant 0
- Hernando 8, Horn Lake 0
- Hernando: Izzy Powers-3 goals, Lily Jones-2 goals
- Lewisburg 2, DeSoto Central 1
- Lewisburg: Brianna Kimbrell-1 goal, Mia Cagle-1 goal.
Prep wrestling
Oxford 47, Center Hill 24
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DeSoto Central’s KJ Patrick reached 1,000 career points during Tuesday’s victory over Booneville.
