Southern Sports & Travel: AAA Boys Action

MRA too much for Raiders

Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas

The top ranked MRA Patriots improved to 14-2 last night with a 50-35 road win at Jackson Academy. Justin Malone hit a turnaround jumper to start things off and teammates Craig Bell and Ryan Ellis nailed 3-pointers as the Patriots raced out to an early 8-0 lead over the home-standing Jackson Academy Raiders. Andrew Iupe hit a 3-pointer at the 2:58 mark of the first quarter to get the Raiders on the board and two Will Marley free throws closed the MRA lead to 8-5 with 2:21 left in the quarter. MRA closed the quarter with two baskets, the last a Craig Bell tip in at the horn to give MRA a 12-5 advantage.

(Above) Andrew Iupe (#3) of Jackson Academy shoots over Justin Malone (#34) of MRA
MRA pushed their lead to 17-7 at the 5:18 mark of the second quarter when Justin Malone muscled in a basket plus one, but the Raiders wouldn’t go away as they slowly began cutting into the Patriots lead. Clayton Dufrey’s eight foot turnaround jumper brought the Raiders to within seven at 22-15 with just under three minutes remaining in the half. Jackson Academy’s Keith Shumaker scored off a steal with seven seconds left as the Raiders finished the last 2:10 of the half with a 6-2 run to head into the locker room down 27-21 at the half.
After Jordan Stentiford of MRA hit an eight footer to start the half Jackson Academy pulled to within four points at 29-25 on two Clayton Dufrey free throws and Andrew Iupe’s drive to the basket, but the Raiders would get no closer as MRA put together a 9-2 run over the next five minutes to finish the quarter up 38-27. (Above) Caleb Miskelly (#13) of MRA checks Keith Shumaker of Jackson Academy
Jackson Academy could get no closer than seven points in the final quarter as MRA hit on 8/10 free throws down the stretch to seal the 50-35 win.
Justin Malone had a game high 14 points to lead MRA, Ryan Ellis and Jordan Stentiford each added 10, Jeffrey Rickels and Craig Bell had 5 each, Caleb Miskelly 4 and Robert Richardson had 2.
For Jackson Academy Clayton Dufrey had 12 points, Andrew Iupe added 9, Will Marley 8 and Keith Shumaker 6 points.
With the loss the #4 ranked Raiders slip to 8-8.
MRA will be participating in the Jackson Academy Invitational the remainder of the week.