Prep hoops roundup: Rattlers roll in opener
LeFlore coach Otis Hughley said his high-powered Rattlers experienced some nervousness Tuesday night against Vigor.
OK, after 3½ minutes, the Rattlers led the Wolves just 3-2. But by the second quarter, the rout was on in the opener of a season LeFlore hopes to finish with a second straight 6A state title and a national championship.
Nick Williams poured in 32 points, DeMarcus Cousins stuffed in 19 and Jerald Watkins added 15 as LeFlore pounded Vigor 85-47 before a packed house at Vigor.
"We have 13 new players and had the first-game jitters, and it is always going to be an adjustment and transition period," Hughley said. "We will have to get the kinks out because we have a couple of players that have to learn how to play basketball with each other. We were missing some key players tonight but I will say it was a pretty good start."
Williams, who has verbally committed to Marquette, scored the Rattlers' first nine points as LeFlore built an 18-9 lead in the first quarter.
Williams pumped in 15 points in the second quarter as the lead grew to 41-24.
DeMarcus Cousins, a 6-foot-10 transfer and one of the top-rated juniors in the country, scored 7 points in the third period with two mammoth dunks and a 20-foot jumper.
Jerald Watkins tallied 15 points in the fourth quarter as the Rattlers blew the game open.
Montrell Horne scored 13 points and Jahfee Lacy chipped in 10 for Vigor.
LeFlore, currently ranked No. 24 in the nation by the Rivals.com Fab 50 national poll, visits McGill-Toolen on Nov. 16. Vigor travels to McGill-Toolen on Nov. 17.
"We spread out our next game 10 days so we can study the film and learn from it so we can become a better team," Hughley said.
-- BLOUNT 83, SATSUMA 26: Jamel Brazeal had 19 points and 11 assists and Anthony Simms had 18 points and 13 rebounds as the Leopards opened the season with an easy win. Tyler Sherrill contributed 14 points and Brenton Butler had 13 for the Leopards, who play again tonight at 6 against Murphy in the Mary Montgomery tournament.
-- McGILL-TOOLEN 79, BAKER 75 (OT): Ji Kimbrough scored 26 points and Terry York added 12 to lead McGill-Toolen to a season-opening win over Baker. Bradley Boyd led Baker with 23 points while Joe Hernandez had 14 points. McGill (1-0) visits Mobile Christian at 7 p.m. Thursday.
GIRLS-- BAKER 46, McGILL-TOOLEN 41: Laquarius Todd had 17 points and 6 rebounds, Keniesha Wheeler had 11 points and 6 rebounds and Joanna Calhoun had 10 points as Baker came back from an 11-point deficit after the first period to beat McGill-Toolen. The Hornets (1-1) visit Harrison Central in Gulfport at 7 p.m. Thursday.
-- LEFLORE 72, VIGOR 52: Shanece Williams scored a game-high 27 points for LeFlore in the season opener for both teams. Gabrielle Williams and Endia O'Cain each chipped in 12. Vigor was led by Zia Muse with 13. LeFlore will play Mary Montgomery in the Blount Invitational at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
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