Royals Prove They’re Ready For Primetime
Thursday-Jay hosted Poplar Springs in front of a packed John Clarence Smith Gymnasium crowd and came away with the win, 70-60. The win avenged an earlier season loss to the Atomics by eight. Jay (13-3) now has won their last seven games in a row. And for the first time in the school’s history, the game was broadcast live on television for Channel 35 (a syndicate of WEAR TV3).
Both teams started out on fire in the first quarter, with the Royals scoring 25 to Poplar Springs’ 18. Ethan Mcdonald hit two 3’s in the first quarter while senior Tristan Watson added 6 (Watson would be awarded as the High School Hoops Player of the Game).
Jay’s offense would continue to get the ball inside in the second quarter extending their lead to 14 at halftime. Post player Matthew Skipper scored 10 of his 14 points in the first half.
Poplar Springs would start to connect on 3’s in the second half, hitting five in the third quarter, outscoring Jay 17-12. Early in the fourth quarter, Jay’s lead would be trimmed to five, but again, senior Tristan Watson took over, scoring 11 fourth quarter points as Jay would hold off the late rally by the Atomics.
Next up for Jay is a home game against Destin High School on Tuesday.
(S. Melvin 16, T. Watson 21, E. Mcdonald 14, T. Nowling 2, M. Allen 3, M. Skipper 14)
PSHS-18 11 17 14-60
JHS -25 18 12 15-70
