Freshman Jacquez Payton scored a team-high 20 points to power sixth-ranked Georgiana School to a 65-58 win over Florala High School Dec. 20.

Fellow freshman Richard Boggan added 13 points in the victory and senior Cameron Matthews chipped in 10 points.

With the win, Georgiana improved to 10-1 on the season.

The Panthers will be back in action Jan. 4 when they play host to J.F. Shields. B-team action is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. with varsity action set to follow.

 

Greenville edges Luverne

Greenville High School’s Tevin Burns did his best Reggie Miller impersonation  in a 47-45 win over Luverne Dec. 20.

With Luverne leading 45-42 with 35 seconds left to play, Burns drilled a 3-pointer to knot the game at 45-all.

On the ensuing inbounds play, Burns stole the ball and converted a layup for what proved to be the game-winning score, conjuring up memories of Miller’s late-game heroics against the New York Knicks in 1995 when the Pacers guard scored eight points in 11 seconds.

“Tevin came up big for us tonight late in the game,” Greenville head coach Richard Kelly said. “He kept his composure. I am so proud of him.”

Burns finished with five points on the night.

Kent Riley led Greenville’s offensive charge with 13 points.

Javarrus Cheatham added nine points in the victory.

“We played four quarters of basketball and I was thrilled about that,” Kelly said. “We are starting to play together, and that is how we are going to be successful late in the season.”

 

McKenzie Lady Tigers top Kinston

McKenzie School’s Kayla Shufford scored 19 points to help lead the Lady Tigers to a 52-35 win over Kinston on Dec. 19.

Brittany Gard added 14 points and Dazia Womack added eight points for McKenzie (2-1).

“It is a great advantage when you have multiple players that can score for you,” McKenzie head coach Ezell Powell said.

“Most teams that play us know you have to contain Dazia on the inside, but in our first three games, the other girls have played a key role in our success on offense because Dazia has been double and even triple teamed.”

Womack’s biggest impact was on the boards. She snagged 15 rebounds.

“She got most of them on the defensive end of the court,” Powell said. “I preach a lot about no second shots.”