Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
It was senior night at Rees Gymnasium on the campus of Presbyterian Christian last night and two seniors fueled 4th ranked Presbyterian to a 72-55 win over East Rankin. Gage Garner and Cade Martin shared game high honors as the two seniors each scored 21 points as the Bobcats improved to 18-6 with two regular season games remaining on the schedule.
Garner set the tone early as the senior guard hit 3-pointers on Presbyterian’s first two possessions and a James Akers transition basket off an East Rankin turnover pushed the Bobcats out to a quick 8-2 advantage less than two minutes into the contest.
East Rankin would answer with two free throws from Jacob Weldon and a Thomas Flickner offensive rebound and lay-in to pull to within two points at the 5:18 mark but Presbyterian finished the opening quarter with an impressive 21-6 run that featured the talents of senior point guard James Akers who executed the Bobcat transition game and helped build a 29-12 lead heading into the second quarter.
East Rankin fired off seven straight points to trim the deficit to ten points at 29-19 to begin the second quarter but Presbyterian reeled off a 15-0 run with perimeter shooting and a stifling defense that resulted in easy fast break baskets to give the Bobcats their biggest lead of the half at 44-19 with 2:16 remaining. 
Caleb Bedford’s 3-pointer from the wing and his 15 footer off the glass with 17 seconds left in the quarter pulled East Rankin to 44-24 at the halfway point.
East Rankin held their ground in the third quarter as the Patriots outscored Presbyterian 16-12 and appeared to have found an offensive rhythm heading into the final quarter down 56-40.
East Rankin would get no closer than 13 points in the final stanza as Presbyterian cruised to a 72-55 win.
Presbyterian was led by Gage Garner and Cade Martin with 21 points each, Hunter Hawkins added 17, James Akers 9 and Drew Deen and Tanner Myatt had 2 each.
Next up for Presbyterian is a road trip to Hancock on Tuesday.
Jacob Weldon led East Rankin with 15 points, Tyler Rhodes added 11, Blake Hill 10, Thomas Flickner and Caleb Bedford had 8 each, Tyler Madden 2 and Tyler Gray 1.
East Rankin will travel to Newton today and will host Jackson Prep on Tuesday.
(Photos above) Top: Cade Martin (#25) of Presbyterian gets tied up by East Rankin's Tyler Rhodes (#11) Bottom: Presbyterian point guard James Akers (#5) drives to the basket
Post Game Comments: Presbyterian Head Coach Gary Harris
