Saturday sports: Olive Branch boys beat back MRA, Dampier
Photo: Tommy Callicut of Olive Branch drives for two of his nine points against Madison Ridgeland Academy in the Conquistadors’ 54-40 victory. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
The Tangle on the Trail basketball classic is a one-day event that annually attracts talented teams and players to showcase their skills for fans and college coaches. The Tangle, played each year at Pontotoc High School, on Saturday included a matchup of the defending MHSAA 6A state champions from Olive Branch against Madison Ridgeland Academy (MRA), one of Mississippi’s dominant private school teams as a MAIS 5A program.
MRA is led by coach Richard Duease, a legendary basketball coach in Mississippi who holds the record as the winningest high school basketball coach in the state’s history, with over 1,800 career victories.
The Patriots this year also feature freshman Erick Dampier Jr., son of former NBA standout Erick Dampier. At 6-foot-10, the younger Dampier was expected to dominate the inside game against the Conquistadors on Saturday.
Enter Olive Branch’s Tommy Callicut. At 6-foot-3, Callicut was assigned to neutralize Dampier. While Callicut himself scored only nine points for the game, his play against Dampier was critical in the Conquistadors posting a 54-40 victory. The Quistors improved to 10-3 and Callicut was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
“Tommy’s just so smart that he puts himself in a good position,” Olive Branch coach Eric Rombaugh said. “We just told Tommy, ‘you’re going to have to be physical, but you’re going to have to show the referee your hands and just play defense with your body.’”
Callicut and the Quistors held Dampier to only seven points, while Jas Smith paced the Patriots with 11 points. King George led Olive Branch in scoring, also with 11 points.
Olive Branch quickly went off to a 7-0 lead in the game and led the Patriots 19-9 after one quarter, thanks to seven points from Callicut in the period.
Midway through the second quarter, the Quistors held a 23-11 advantage, which became 31-18 at halftime. Reese Garrison had eight points for Olive Branch at the break.
The Conquistador offense chilled like the cold rain outside the Pontotoc gymnasium for Olive Branch in the third quarter, save for Geroge, who helped extend the margin to 39-25 after three quarters.
The Quistors had scored one basket and had a free throw until George struck for a pair of baskets and a free throw late in the session.
The teams traded 15 points in the final eight minutes as Olive Branch pulled away for the 14-point victory.
Saturday, Dec. 14
Prep boys basketball
- DeSoto Central 67, MHEA 61
- Olive Branch 54, Madison Ridgeland Academy 40
- Horn Lake 100, North Panola 58
Prep girls basketball
- Horn Lake 34, North Panola 33
JUCO men’s basketball
- Northwest 74, Phillips, Ark. 71
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