CLINTON — Jackson Prep couldn’t have asked for a better start.
The Patriots used a strong first half along with a very balanced offensive attack to help get past Heritage Academy 64-53 in an all-Patriot matchup in the First Round of the MAIS Boys Overall Basketball Tournament at Mississippi College’s A.E. Wood Coliseum on Tuesday night.
Jackson Prep (25-6) will face Hillcrest Christian in the Second Round of the MAIS Overall Tournament on Monday at 6 p.m.
“Heritage is a really good team and they have two really good special players and I’m proud of how our guys just kept battling,” said Jackson Prep coach Zach Allison. “They cut the lead down to three late and we just found a way in the last two and a half minutes to win it at the end.”
Jackson Prep jumped out to a 15-7 lead to begin the game, but Heritage was able to outscore Prep 9-8 to close out the quarter, cutting the lead down to 23-16 after a K.J. Barnes half-court shot at the buzzer.
During the second quarter, the teams traded baskets, with Jackson Prep holding a 37-29 lead at halftime.
Midway through the third quarter Heritage cut the Prep lead down to 43-39, but the Patriots went on a 6-0 run to extend their lead out to 49-43.
In the fourth quarter with Prep up 56-46, Heritage went on a 7-0 run to cut the Prep lead down to 56-53 with 2:44 left.
Prep ended the game on an 8-0 run to put the game away.
Prep had four players in double figures led by Cray Luckett with 16 points. Kevin Roberts added 14 points, Ben Segrest had 12 points, and John Ed Maddox chipped in 10 points.
“Cray got hot early, and our guys found him with driving and kicking the ball out for an open three within our offense, so it was good to see some shots go down,” Allison said. “We knew offensively we thought we could get some really good looks just the way they play defense. Our guys are so unselfish and do what we ask them to do, and they got it done.”
K.J. Barnes had a game-high 23 points to lead Heritage Academy, while Xzavier Webber added 13 points for Patriots (24-6).
“We just couldn’t get stops. They run a lot of good stuff, and they hit a bunch of big shots early to give them some confidence and that’s the last thing a team like that needs,” said Heritage Academy coach Andrew Howell. “We kept fighting back, but in the end it wasn’t enough. We had an incredible year with all that we accomplished, and it stings now that we lost. We will remember this feeling to get back here next year.”
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