MRA sweeps Prep in overtime thrillersSouthern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
Madison-Ridgeland Academy made the short drive to Flowood last night and came away with two thrilling overtime wins over Jackson Prep.
MRA senior guard Caleb Miskelly led the Patriots with 26 points as the Patriots edged out Jackson Prep 58-51 in overtime while junior guard Anna Claire Henderson hit a 12 foot bank shot at the buzzer to propel the Lady Patriots to a 46-45 overtime win.
Boy's action......
In a matchup that pitted top ranked Jackson Prep against second ranked MRA the first half of play lived up to the hype associated with the early season encounter between the two AAA powers. Five minutes into the opening quarter a Justin Malone basket in the paint gave MRA a 10-5 lead but Prep would answer with two Thomas Dunbar baskets to close out the 1st quarter with the defending Overall Champions holding on to a 10-9 advantage.
(Above) Caleb Miskelly of MRA (#13) halts the shot of Prep's Thomas Dunbar
Jackson Prep took their first lead of the night at 12-10 on a Travis McCain 3-pointer from the wing just 10 seconds into the 2nd quarter but that lead would be short lived as MRA went on a 10-2 run, six of those points coming from Caleb Miskelly, to take a 20-14 lead with 3:50 remaining in the half. Prep answered with a Ryan Buchanan 18 foot jumper and De Graeber’s drive with 2:26 left trimmed the deficit to 20-18. Prep knotted the score at 20-20 as Graeber served up an assist to Thomas Dunbar on the Pat’s next possession but MRA would take a 22-20 lead into the break on a Justin Malone basket in the paint.
Matt Porter’s 3-pointer from the corner halfway though the 3rd quarter gave MRA their biggest lead at 31-24 and it looked as though MRA and their pressure defense would allow them to pull away from Jackson Prep as they took a 37-29 cushion into the final quarter of play.
(Above) Prep's De Graeber (#12) scores 2 of his 18 points on the night
Alec Rawlings nailed a basket to give MRA their biggest lead of the night at 39-29 with 6:53 remaining but Prep stormed back with an 8-0 run to cut the MRA lead to 39-37 forcing the Patriots to call a timeout to regroup with 4:34 left in regulation.
MRA would extend the lead back out to five points at 46-41 following a Caleb Miskelly steal and lay-in with 1:46 remaining but Prep wouldn’t go away.
After each squad traded baskets to make it 48-43 Prep finished with a flurry. After canning the first of two free throws De Graeber’s second attempt was strong off the rim but Ryan Buchanan pulled down the rebound and converted to narrow the deficit to 48-46. Following an MRA turnover Graeber’s driving basket tied the game at 48-48 with 54 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter. Caleb Miskelly’s desperation heave at the buzzer fell short to send the game into overtime.
(Above) MRA senior center Justin Malone (#34) added 14 points
Justin Malone’s lay-in to start the overtime period gave MRA a slim 50-48 lead but Graeber tied the game as he drove and hit a basket over Malone with 2:33 remaining.
MRA controlled the next two minutes as Caleb Miskelly hit two buckets and a free throw and Tyler Cummins converted on a basket, plus one to ice the win.
Miskelly had a game high 26 points to lead MRA, Justin Malone added 14, Matthew Camp had 6, Tyler Cummins 5, Alec Rawlings 4 and Matt Porter 3.
De Graeber led Prep with 18 points, Thomas Dunbar added 11, Ryan Buchanan 10, Clay Hubbard 5, Douglas Haick and Travis McCain 3 apiece and Gage Ray 1.
MRA improves to 6-4 while Jackson Prep slips to 9-2.
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Post game interview: **MRA boys coach Richard DueaseIn a matchup that pitted top ranked Jackson Prep against second ranked MRA the first half of play lived up to the hype associated with the early season encounter between the two AAA powers. Five minutes into the opening quarter a Justin Malone basket in the paint gave MRA a 10-5 lead but Prep would answer with two Thomas Dunbar baskets to close out the 1st quarter with the defending Overall Champions holding on to a 10-9 advantage.
(Above) Caleb Miskelly of MRA (#13) halts the shot of Prep's Thomas DunbarJackson Prep took their first lead of the night at 12-10 on a Travis McCain 3-pointer from the wing just 10 seconds into the 2nd quarter but that lead would be short lived as MRA went on a 10-2 run, six of those points coming from Caleb Miskelly, to take a 20-14 lead with 3:50 remaining in the half. Prep answered with a Ryan Buchanan 18 foot jumper and De Graeber’s drive with 2:26 left trimmed the deficit to 20-18. Prep knotted the score at 20-20 as Graeber served up an assist to Thomas Dunbar on the Pat’s next possession but MRA would take a 22-20 lead into the break on a Justin Malone basket in the paint.
Matt Porter’s 3-pointer from the corner halfway though the 3rd quarter gave MRA their biggest lead at 31-24 and it looked as though MRA and their pressure defense would allow them to pull away from Jackson Prep as they took a 37-29 cushion into the final quarter of play.
(Above) Prep's De Graeber (#12) scores 2 of his 18 points on the nightAlec Rawlings nailed a basket to give MRA their biggest lead of the night at 39-29 with 6:53 remaining but Prep stormed back with an 8-0 run to cut the MRA lead to 39-37 forcing the Patriots to call a timeout to regroup with 4:34 left in regulation.
MRA would extend the lead back out to five points at 46-41 following a Caleb Miskelly steal and lay-in with 1:46 remaining but Prep wouldn’t go away.
After each squad traded baskets to make it 48-43 Prep finished with a flurry. After canning the first of two free throws De Graeber’s second attempt was strong off the rim but Ryan Buchanan pulled down the rebound and converted to narrow the deficit to 48-46. Following an MRA turnover Graeber’s driving basket tied the game at 48-48 with 54 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter. Caleb Miskelly’s desperation heave at the buzzer fell short to send the game into overtime.
(Above) MRA senior center Justin Malone (#34) added 14 pointsJustin Malone’s lay-in to start the overtime period gave MRA a slim 50-48 lead but Graeber tied the game as he drove and hit a basket over Malone with 2:33 remaining.
MRA controlled the next two minutes as Caleb Miskelly hit two buckets and a free throw and Tyler Cummins converted on a basket, plus one to ice the win.
Miskelly had a game high 26 points to lead MRA, Justin Malone added 14, Matthew Camp had 6, Tyler Cummins 5, Alec Rawlings 4 and Matt Porter 3.
De Graeber led Prep with 18 points, Thomas Dunbar added 11, Ryan Buchanan 10, Clay Hubbard 5, Douglas Haick and Travis McCain 3 apiece and Gage Ray 1.
MRA improves to 6-4 while Jackson Prep slips to 9-2.
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