STARKVILLE — While the Aberdeen High School boys basketball team continues its quest for consistency, first-year coach Jaworski Rankin is pleased the Bulldogs are winning while learning.

“It’s about consistency and playing for four quarters,” Rankin said. “The players are still learning me and I am learning them. The fact we are showing flashes is a good thing. The kids know where we are and where we can go.”

Aberdeen made it three-straight wins Saturday with a 55-37 victory against Miller-McCoy Academy of New Orleans on the second day of the Travis Outlaw Slam Dunk at the Hump tournament. The Bulldogs finished 2-0 in the event at Humphrey Coliseum.

“I told the guys at halftime to keep their heads up and keep playing,” Aberdeen junior point guard Queshod Young said. “We work hard every day in practice. We really go hard and it feels like we do almost everything right most days. We just have to keep the consistency and bring that effort out to the court on game nights.

“We know the capabilities. That is what we talked about at halftime, just keeping the effort up and playing hard.”

Aberdeen (9-3) led 19-12 at halftime despite a five-minute stretch in the second quarter when neither team scored. In the second half, the Bulldogs looked like a different group.

On its first four possessions of the second half, Aberdeen ran the offense to near perfection and made baskets. Jatavius Dobbs had an old-fashioned three-point play and Darrell Carouthers and Isaiah McMillian drained 3-pointers to give Aberdeen a 14-point lead.

“We had a stretch there where we were really good,” Rankin said. “When we get more looks for more people, we can be pretty dangerous. It takes the pressure off Marcus (Carouthers) when we have that kind of offensive production.”

Miller-McCoy closed within seven points before another 8-0 run by Aberdeen closed the door. During that run, Marcus Carouthers had a pair of steals and layups. Dobbs also had a nifty steal at midcourt and a pair of blocked shots in the lane.

“Go hard. That is the thing that coach stresses,” Marcus Carouthers said. “Even when things aren’t going well, we are going to go hard. It’s really encouraging being out here with these guys because the team gets a little better each game.

“We just have to keep our defensive intensity up. If we get the lead, we have to keep working and we can’t let up.”

While the halftime speech included more sharing of the basketball, the Bulldogs also were reminded Marcus Carouthers needs to touch the ball when the well runs dry.

Marcus Carouthers had 17 of his game-high 22 points in the final 9 minutes, 45 seconds.

“We are developing other options, and that is a good thing,” Young said. “Marcus is a great player, but it seems like everybody is more relaxed and into the game when they are scoring. Passing the ball is something coach has been working with us on. That is and not letting up when we get a lead.”

Darrell Carouthers added nine points for Aberdeen. Dobbs had three points, three blocks, and 10 rebounds.

With its only losses to Horn Lake and Tupelo, Aberdeen feels like the time is right to turn the calendar to 2015 and prepare for region play. Up first is another challenge against Midfield (Ala.) High on Jan. 3 in Itawamba Community College’s Rumble on the River in Fulton.

“Playing here was a great experience,” Marcus Carouthers said. “It was great to be able to play in the big arena and to show out a little bit. We learned a lot this week, and I think we will keep growing.”

Darrell Jacobs had 16 points for Miller-McCoy (6-10).

Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott

Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.