Photo: Jason Edwards of Horn Lake goes up against an Oxford defender for two points during Wednesday’s 69-64 Eagles’ victory. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
The Horn Lake basketball Eagles drew into a tie with Lewisburg at the top of the Region 1-7A boys’ standings and pushed Oxford 1.5 games back in third place with Wednesday night’s 69-64 victory over the Chargers at Horn Lake High School.
Four players scored in double figures for coach Chico Potts’ squad, led by Ronald Wilson and Tylan Young, each with 15 points. Jordan Simmons and Kemauri Mack added 10 each for the Eagles.
Kobe Jones led Oxford with 19 points and DJ Davis added 17 points in the loss.
Oxford took the early lead in the game, running off to an 8-1 lead and holding a 19-17 lead after one quarter. Jones scored five of his 19 points in the opening eight minutes of the game, while Wilson hit a pair of threes and added two free throws to pace the Eagles.
Young took charge in the second quarter for Horn Lake, scoring seven of his 15 points in the quarter, including a layup with 10 seconds left in the half that tied the game at 35-35.
Horn Lake took its first lead early in the third quarter and the game went back-and-forth from there, with both teams tied at 47-47 going into the final eight minutes of the contest.
Mack led the scoring in the third quarter for Horn Lake with a pair of inside baskets and Jones broke out in the quarter for Oxford with seven points, including three free throws.
Horn Lake held a 62-57 lead with 2:19 remaining and some big baskets seemingly had the Eagles flying away with a 65-57 lead at the 1:33 mark of the final quarter.
But then Oxford rallied, buoyed by a three point foul shot opportunity that had Davis sinking all three charity tries to get the Chargers back within 67-64. However, Jason Edwards was fouled in the final seconds and his two free throws put the game out of reach at 69-64.
Potts was pleased with how his team handled the challenge the Chargers presented.
“The guys overcame some adversity because we got hammered in the first half on the boards,” Potts said. “They had more offensive rebounds than we had total rebounds in the first half and that was a point of emphasis going into the second half.”
The Horn Lake coach was also satisfied in how the Eagles defended Davis, who has been averaging 23 points a game.
We kept him kind of under control a little bit,” Potts said. “I think we did a pretty good job on basically making him take some tough shots. He made some but because of the game I think we did a good job of finishing it up.”
OXFORD GIRLS 58, HORN LAKE 41: In the girls game, the young Lady Eagles struggled to keep up with the Lady Chargers throughout, as Oxford ran off to a 13-0 lead enroute to a 20-7 margin after one quarter. Oxford held a 28-10 halftime lead.
Zacoria Gates led Horn Lake with four points and Lamyah Harris added a three-pointer in the first half of play.
The push continued in the second half as the bulge became 36-20 with two minutes left in the third quarter and Oxford had a 44-27 advantage going into the fourth period of play. The Lady Chargers led 51-37 halfway through the final quarter and during the period Horn Lake was able to close the gap within 12 points before Oxford pushed away for the 17-point win.
Carmaria Frierson led all scorers with 26 points for Oxford, 17 of which came in the second half. Zoe Metcalf added 15 for the Lady Chargers.
Gates and Harris led the Horn Lake attack, with Gates finishing with 13 points and Harris adding 12.
After Wednesday’s contest, Oxford stands third in the Region 1-7A standings at 4-2, two games behind frontrunner Lewisburg and a half-game behind second-place Hernando. The Lady Eagles are still looking for their first Region 1-7A win at 0-5.
Both Horn Lake teams host DeSoto Central on Friday night.
DESOTO COUNTY SCOREBOARD
Prep boys basketball
Horn Lake 69, Oxford 64
Center Hill 61, Saltillo 57
Prep girls basketball
Oxford 58, Horn Lake 41
Center Hill 64, Saltillo 41
Center Hill scoring: Madison Hughes (16), Kennedy Hulbert (13)
