By Nick Nunn
Staff Writer

The Morgan County Middle School basketball program began its regular season this week with games against Greene County and Youth. The girls team won both games, 28-10 and 42-17, respectively. The boys team lost to Greene County 26-30 but beat Youth 36-30.
The Morgan County girls shut out the Greene County Tigers in the first quarter, 13-0, and only allowed them two points in the first half.
After the third quarter, Greene County had managed to add another two points to their total, making the score 22-4.
Both teams managed to gain six more points in the fourth quarter; the final score for the game was 28-10.
Tatyana Davis was Morgan County’s lead scorer for the game, making six field goals and two out of two attempted free throws.
The boys’ game against Greene County was close through the first half; Morgan County had a one-point lead after the first quarter with the score 6-5.
Despite the 14-13 lead at the beginning of the second half, Morgan County fell behind the Tigers 17-21 in the third quarter, and Morgan County couldn’t overcome that deficit, ultimately losing to Greene County 26-30.
Dalton Cole led the team with seven points, each scored as a free throw. Lamarcus Stokes scored six points.
Friday, the teams played the Youth Warriors at home.
Although both teams fought hard in the first six minutes of the game, the MCMS girls took a three point lead into the second quarter.
Youth was held to only one point in the second quarter, but Morgan scored 18 points, making the score 28-8 after the first half.
The Warriors weren’t able to close the gap in the second half of gameplay; the MCMS girls won 42-17.
Davis was the leading scorer for this game as well, this time with 14 points. Sarah Couch had another good game, making four out of four attempted free throws and three field goals.
The MCMS boys had good fortune against the Warriors.
After the first quarter, Morgan County was ahead 8-6, but the score was tied at 18 at the half.
However, in the second half, the Bullpups reasserted their dominance, outscoring Youth 10 points to four in the third quarter and holding onto their six-point lead through the last quarter to win 36-30.
Ladarius Carter scored 12 points against Youth, which included eight points from 10 attempted free throw shots. Lamarcus Stokes and Josiah Mitchell also came out with nine and eight points, respectively.
Coaches Brian Cousins and Milfred Franklin are pleased with the way their teams are shaping up so far this season, particularly in terms of developing a consistent performance on defense.
“At this point, early in the season, we are starting to see the importance of working together on both sides of the ball,” said Coach Cousins. “All of the girls are buying into a defensive philosophy.”
“I told the team that if we play good hard nose defense every game the entire game, it will be hard to beat us,” reasserted Coach Franklin. “Now it's all about developing consistency and getting better each day.”
This Wednesday, the MCMS basketball teams play Putnam County at home and Social Circle away Friday afternoon.

Printed in the December 6, 2012 edition