Mixed night for Junior Tribes on hardwood

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Bud Hilburn (left) drives for a layup during Monday's seventh-grade boys' basketball game. [Click to enlarge]

It was a mixed night on the hardwood for the Kennett Indians and Lady Indians junior high basketball teams against South Pemiscot.

On the boys side, the eighth grade won, while the seventh grade lost in the season opener for both teams.

Meanwhile, the seventh-grade girls rolled to a 21-2 win, while in the eighth-grade contest, a late rally fell short in a 39-34 loss.

Staff photo by Mike Buhler South Pemiscot's Kirsten Robinson (left) guards Kennett's Shayla Jansson during Monday's eighth-grade girls basketball game at Kennett Middle School. [Click to enlarge]

"I was very proud of my eighth grade tonight," Kennett coach Janet Hilburn said. "They played hard the entire game and they never gave up. A few too many turnovers hurt us early and we never could catch up."

South Pem jumped out to a 13-3 lead after one quarter and extended that lead to 12 points (30-18) entering the final period.

However, Kennett rallied behind the hot hands of Kelsey Washburn and Lara Abmeyer, who each scored seven points in the final period as the Lady Tribe almost came back.

Abmeyer led Kennett with 11 points, while Washburn added nine and Shayla Jansson chipped in six.

Carrie Shepherd led South Pemiscot with 18 points, while Alisha Campbell joined her in double figures with 13 and Kirsten Robinson added eight.

"South Pem has a very talented team," said Hilburn, "and I thought my girls played great against them."

In the seventh-grade contest, the Lady Indians jumped out to a 14-2 lead after one quarter and shut out South Pem the rest of the way in a two-quarter game.

"Seventh grade continues to move the ball and make the other team turn over the ball," Hilburn said. "Their hustle and defense is the key."

Mackenzie Marchbanks scored five points to lead the way, while Logan Vaughan and Courtney Haywood each added four.

The boys squads head down to Senath-Hornersville this evening, while the girls host Hayti.