By Nick Nunn
Staff Writer

After completing the entire 2011-2012 regular season without a mark in the loss column, MCMS’ girls basketball team’s streak was ended last Friday night with a 33-31 loss against Loganville Middle School. The girls beat Monticello earlier in the week 38-10; the boys middle school team split the difference as well, losing to Monticello 25-45 but earning a 27-26 victory over Loganville.
The girls team’s defense suffocated Monticello the entire night, freezing Monticello’s scoring to six points in the first quarter, zero in the second quarter, and then two points a piece in the third and fourth quarters.

In addition to paralyzing Monticello’s offense, the girls were able to run over their defense all night. Tatyana Davis scored 18 points on her own, while Sarah Couch and Autumn Woodard were able to supplement her total with seven and six points, respectively.

Although the team’s offense didn’t suffer against Loganville on Friday – Tatyana Davis was able to score 17 points, Sarah Couch added eight points, and, as a whole, the team was able to get away with more than 15 rebounds – the Red Devils were able to edge them out by two points.

The MCMS boys team was plagued by Monticello from the very beginning of the game, scoring only two points in the first quarter.

Monticello’s team played like they had something to prove, getting to rebounds much more often than the Morgan players were able to.

The fans in Monticello’s basketball, which looks a bit more like an airplane hangar than a modern basketball arena, were enthusiastic all night, cheering their boys on to their 45-25 victory.
Josiah Mitchell led the charge against Monticello for Morgan County, scoring eight points. Jordan Huff tacked on an extra four points for the team.

In Loganville, the boys played well enough to outscore the Red Devils, making just enough baskets in the fourth quarter to come out one point ahead.

Willie Simmons was the leading scorer against the Red Devils, earning nine points. Lamarcus Stokes and Dalton Cole earned six points a piece.

This week, the MCMS basketball teams take on Greene County for their second match-up of the year. After that, they are off until the new year, when they will place Carver Middle School on Jan. 4.

Printed in the December 20, 2012 edition