A-G falls to Kemp, Quitman

By TOMMY ANDERSON

tommyanderson@suddenlink.net

Posted 1/11/17

When you talk schoolboy basketball district races the conversation usually revolves around the one team that is so dominant that there really is no race for the title, or it centers around the idea …

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A-G falls to Kemp, Quitman

Posted

When you talk schoolboy basketball district races the conversation usually revolves around the one team that is so dominant that there really is no race for the title, or it centers around the idea that at least half the league could have a shot at the championship.

In District 12-3A the second scenario seems to be the way local coffee shop conversation is going this year with possibly four of the eight conference teams figuring in the title chase.

Mineola could have the inside track with a strong start in the early going, but with a 14-game district schedule, it is going to be a hard grind for all teams and who knows how the chips may fall.

Two of the contenders in the race collided last Tuesday in Alba when the Panthers hosted Kemp’s Yellowjackets. Kemp never trailed in its march to a 63-49 victory, but the score was knotted at 40-40 at the end of three quarters. That Kemp win left both teams with 1-1 district records.

Kane Johnson, a 6-3 junior, was the fire behind that fourth quarter surge that brought home the win for Kemp. In that final period, he single handedly outscored the Panthers, pouring in 12 points on two three pointers, two field goals and a pair of free shots. Meanwhile Alba-Golden could muster only nine points in the frame, the least of any quarter output in the contest for the Panthers.

While Johnson completed the contest with scoring honors for the night, posting a total of 30 points, Logan Miller was a real bright spot for the Panthers, sinking eight field goals, including one from outside the three-point arch and a pair of charity shots for 19 points. Brady Rolen’s nine points was the second-best scoring effort for the Panthers.

Kemp jumped out to a 15-11 first quarter lead and upped the advantage to nine points, 34-25, by halftime. The third quarter saw Alba-Golden turn up the heat by outscoring Kemp 15-6, Miller claiming seven of the Panther’s points on two regular field goals and one three-pointer.

The Panthers (12-8, 1-2) fell to Quitman (11-9, 2-1) last Friday in district play. Alba-Golden hosted Scurry-Rosser Tuesday, after Monitor press time, and travels to Grand Saline Friday night.