Raiders overpower Chiefs with strong second half

Southern Sports & Travel
Second ranked Jackson Academy overcame a 32-29 halftime deficit to defeat third ranked Magnolia Heights 58-50 last night in Jackson.

Senior Matthew McMullan scored a game high 18 points and fellow senior Matt Jones added 10 points as the Raiders avenged an early season conference loss to Magnolia Heights in Senatobia.

Nine different Raiders scored in the win as Jackson Academy improved to 20-4 and 7-2 in conference play.

It was Magnolia Heights’ (20-3 & 8-1) first conference loss of the season and the difference in the game was evident as the Chiefs were outscored 21-11 in bench points.

(Above) Matthew McMullan (#23) of Jackson Academy goes baseline for 2 of his 18 points

Jackson Academy looked to push the pace early on as the Raiders got out to a 12-3 lead fueled by strong inside play and two transition baskets from Matthew McMullan that came off of Magnolia Heights turnovers.

Magnolia Heights wouldn’t score from the field until the 2:34 mark of the opening quarter when Fernando Van Hook served up an assist to Wesley Bolton but the Chiefs soon overcame their slow start and began chipping into the Raiders lead.

Jackson Academy would see their lead hold at 15-9 as the first quarter closed and the Raiders would match their biggest lead of nine points at 18-9 one minute into the second quarter after Kevin Anthony converted on one of two free throws and Wade Higgins connected from the elbow but Magnolia Heights was about to heat up in a big way.

Consecutive 3-pointers from Fernando Van Hook and Hayes Carr pulled the Chiefs to within three points at 18-15 but Jackson Academy would manage to hold off the Chief’s rally as they would answer baskets and with 5:22 remaining in the half a Matthew McMullan offensive rebound and put back gave the Raiders a 25-20 advantage but the home crowd was about to grow silent.

Jackson Pitts nailed a 3-pointer from the wing after a Jackson Academy turnover to pull the Chiefs to 25-23 and after a Raider basket in the paint Pitts would drain a 3-pointer from the deep corner to bring the Chiefs to within one point at 27-26 with 3:27 left in the half.

Hayes Carr would give third ranked Magnolia Heights their first lead of the night at 29-27 with a 3-pointer from the wing.

Jackson Academy’s Evans Wilkerson knotted the game at 29-29 with a lay-in at the 1:11 mark but Magnolia Heights would take the momentum into intermission as Hayes Carr nailed another 3-pointer to close out a 12-4 run and give the Chiefs a 32-29 edge at intermission.

Jackson Academy opened the third quarter with an 8-2 run to regain the lead at 37-34 as Kevin Anthony converted twice in the paint and both Matthew McMullan and Carter Holmes hit two free throws apiece.

Jackson Academy would limit the Chiefs to just four points in the quarter and with 9 seconds remaining Kevin Anthony’s baseline jumper from 10’ out pushed the Raider lead to 43-36 entering the final quarter.

Matthew McMullan extended the Raider’s cushion to 47-36 as the senior drove baseline for a basket and converted two free throws just over one minute into the quarter.

Magnolia Heights pulled to within six points at 52-46 on a Hayes Carr 3-pointer from the wing with 2:06 remaining in regulation but the Chiefs would see the deficit grow back to nine points at 58-49 following two Matt Jones free throws with just 29 seconds remaining.

“This was a huge conference game for us,” said Jackson Academy senior Matthew McMullan. “Although we were down at the half there was no panic, we knew our offense was running fine, we just needed to make corrections on defense and we did. They gave us our first loss of the season and on top of that it was a conference game so for us to come out tonight and get the win is huge for us.”

McMullan scored a game high 18 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, Matt Jones added 10 points and 5 rebounds, Kevin Anthony 9 points and 8 rebounds, Wade Higgins and Evans Wilkerson had 5 points each, Carter Holmes 4, Will Parrish 3 and Will McDowell and Colby Walter 2 apiece.

Fernando Van Hook led Magnolia Heights with 15 points, Hayes Carr added 12, Jackson Pitts 10, Wesley Bolton 8, Trey Skelton 4 and Michael Murphree 1.

Jackson Academy will visit rival and top ranked Jackson Prep this evening while Magnolia Heights hosts Strayhorn.

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Post Game with Jackson Academy Head Coach Bill Ball