Using a contributions from several players, the Washington School Generals held off a scrappy Starkville Academy Volunteers team 47-42 in high school basketball Tuesday night.
Washington executed down the stretch and knocked down crucial free throws to preserve the victory.
Starkville got to within a basket of Washington in the final quarter but couldn’t overtake the hosts.
“This was a good all around effort and I thought except for some unsteady play in the third quarter that we played really well in the fourth quarter,” said Generals head coach David Rounsavall. “We took care of the ball and made free throws when we needed to.”
After the ejection of the opposing team’s head coach after three quarters of play, Washington School freshman point guard Ty Signa calmly stepped up to the free throw and kicked down two of three free throws and the Generals never relinquished their lead again.
The Generals opened the third quarter on 6-2 to take a 19-15 lead. It appeared that the home team was pulling away by establishing Tylon Sherdon in the post as he used his big body to carve out space for easy layups.
However, the Vols hung around and tie the scored at 25 when Rett Kenum broke away for an emphatic layup at the 2:15 mark of the third.
Christian Britt’s rebounding helped keep the Generals slight edge throughout the remainder of the quarter as Sherdon began to assert himself defensively with two big blocks.
“His (Britt’s) rebounding has been good for us all year and he’s very athletic,” Rounsovall said. “His offense is coming and and he’s getting better as the season goes on.”
Washington led 27-25 at the end of three quarters of play.
Generals point guard Quan Mobley also began to push the pace of the game heading into the final quarter with key fast break layups and passes to open teammates.
The first half was a low scoring affair with the teams tied at seven after the first quarter. No team lead by any more than three points.
Washington led 15-13 at the half.
Jarius Jordan led Starkville with 14 points. Mobley and Sherdon paced the General with 14 each.
