East Rankin tallies huge road win

Southern Sports & Travel

East Rankin was just two weeks removed from dropping a 78-66 loss at home to Hillcrest after yielding a six point halftime lead. Last night the third ranked Patriots went into intermission holding a six point lead once again but unlike the January 19 encounter East Rankin controlled most of the second half en-route to an 82-77 win over second ranked Hillcrest.

East Rankin got 31 points and 11 rebounds from senior guard Tyler Rhodes and the Patriots hit on 12/15 free throws in the fourth quarter to improve to 20-6 overall and 8-3 in district play. With the win East Rankin pulled to within half a game of Hillcrest who slipped to 8-2.

(Above) East Rankin senior Tyler Gray worked the paint for 18 points on the night

Hillcrest, whose last loss was a three point decision to top ranked Jackson Prep on December 10, will finish out district play next week with road games at Parklane and Jackson Prep. East Rankin will close out their district play on Tuesday when they host Copiah.

Facing the toughest week on their schedule that featured road games with the top two teams in Class AAA East Rankin let it be known that they’ll be in the hunt as post season play nears. The Patriots held a 25-24 halftime lead over top ranked Jackson Prep on Tuesday night but depth played a critical role in the second half as East Rankin fell 74-59. Last night East Rankin led all but thirty seconds of the second half in earning a big road win.

East Rankin wasted little time in getting out to a lead. Tyler Rhodes’ assist to Justin Laster gave the Patriots a 7-0 lead just over two minutes into the contest.

Hillcrest would get on the board at the 5:27 mark as Malcolm Hopkins drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key. The Cougars would pull to within one point at 11-10 on Lee Ogletree’s basket, plus one, and would take their first lead of the night at 12-11 on a Kenneth Davis steal and lay-in with 3:31 left in the quarter.

The Hillcrest lead would be short-lived as Tyler Rhodes (Photo left) converted on a strong drive to the basket, plus one, to give East Rankin control at 14-12. East Rankin looked primed to carry a 24-22 advantage into the second quarter but a 3-pointer from the wing with 3 seconds remaining would give Hillcrest their second lead at 25-24 after one quarter of play.

East Rankin produced a 7-1 run in the first two minutes of the second quarter to take a five point lead at 31-26. After Hillcrest narrowed the margin to two points at 33-31 on a Lee Ogletree offensive rebound and put back at the 4:31 mark the Patriots answered with a 7-0 run, capped by Jacob Weldon’s 3-pointer, to take their biggest lead of the night at 40-31 with 3:36 left in the quarter.

Hillcrest closed the half with a Kenneth Davis offensive rebound and put back at the buzzer to trim the deficit to 44-38 at intermission.

(Above) Justin Laster (#23) of East Rankin converts in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter

Hillcrest exploded in the first minute of the third quarter. Lee Ogletree converted in the paint and Robert Johnson canned two free throws to pull the Cougars to within two points at 44-42 and at the 7:05 mark Hillcrest took the lead at 45-44 on a Kenneth Davis lay-in, plus one, to cap a 7-0 outburst.

Hillcrest maintained that lead for thirty seconds as East Rankin countered.

Two Tyler Gray baskets in the paint quickly provided the Patriots a 48-45 lead at the 5:41 mark and East Rankin would build a seven point cushion at 58-51 on two Tyler Gray free throws with 1:46 left in the quarter.

Hillcrest closed out the third quarter in the same manner they closed the first two, with a basket at the buzzer. Lee Ogletree converted in the paint at the horn to keep Hillcrest close at 62-58 after three quarters of play.

(Above) Lee Ogletree (#44) of Hillcrest looks to penetrate the East Rankin defense

Hillcrest would pull to within one point at 62-61 to start the final quarter but the Cougars would see East Rankin put up a 13-4 run over the next four minutes in building a 75-64 Patriot lead.

Hillcrest would get no closer than five points as East Rankin hit 9/10 free throws in the closing 2:58 to secure an 82-77 win.

Tyler Rhodes led East Rankin with a game high 31 points, Tyler Gray added 18, Jacob Weldon 14, Caleb Bedford 10, Justin Laster 5 and Phillip Parker and Brylan Overby 2 each.

Hillcrest (22-3) was led by Kenneth Davis and Lee Ogletree with 29 points each, Malcolm Hopkins 9, Grant Baker and Robert Johnson 4 each and TJ Knowles 2.

East Rankin will travel to Tri-County this afternoon while Hillcrest hosts Bowling Green.

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Post Game with East Rankin head coach Michael McAnally

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