Forest Hill snags two from Vicksburg High|[11/21/06]

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Terrell Kennedy and Joshua Moore were an extremely effective tag team for Forest Hill on Monday night.

Kennedy, Forest Hill’s big center, dominated inside and set the Vicksburg Gators up, then Moore knocked them down from outside.

Kennedy scored most of his 25 points in the paint, Moore had 27 via a deadly 3-point barrage, and the Rebels shot 67 percent from the field for the game to beat Vicksburg 89-79.

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Moore hit five of his six 3-pointers in the first nine minutes of the second half, including three during a decisive run late in the third quarter and early in the fourth.

&#8220I thought it was a disappointing loss, because we had an opportunity to see if we could get to the next level,” Vicksburg coach Dellie C. Robinson said. &#8220We certainly didn’t pass that test tonight.”

While Forest Hill (5-1) kept the Gators from making a statement, Vicksburg (3-2) didn’t play badly.

VHS raced out to a 12-point lead at the end of the first quarter and shot 52 percent from the field for the game. Jonathan Phelps had a game-high 35 points and five steals, and the Gators were able to maintain a slim lead until the closing moments of the third quarter.

Moore hit a free throw and freshman point guard Andre Stringer converted a putback layup to give Forest Hill its first lead, 55-53, with 1:36 to play in the third. Then Moore got hot. The junior guard hit a 3-pointer in the final minute of the third quarter, then two more in the first 35 seconds of the fourth to key a 17-6 run that gave the Rebels a 69-58 lead.

&#8220I felt like if we could ever get the game tied and play defense like we were capable of, we would win the game,” Forest Hill coach Clay Norton said.

Vicksburg never got closer than nine points again. The Rebels went 9-for-12 from the field in the fourth quarter to maintain the lead.

John Qualls and Delmon Robinson scored 10 points apiece for Vicksburg. Stringer scored 12 points and dished out nine assists for Forest Hill, and Kayland Partree added 11 points.

(G) Forest Hill 45, Vicksburg 27.

Over the course of a 30-game season, a team is due to have a few off nights.

That’s the most soothing explanation for Vicksburg’s fans after a dreadful outing by the Missy Gators.

VHS (4-1) committed 28 turnovers, shot 32 percent for the game and scored a total of seven points in the second and third quarters in a loss to Forest Hill. Taylor Ammons led Vicksburg with eight points, and Rachel Jenkins added seven points and seven rebounds.

Courtney Marbra led Forest Hill (6-1) with 17 points, Ariel Cleveland scored 11 and Sherica Ward had nine points and seven rebounds.

&#8220There’s really nothing to say. We just didn’t come to play,” Vicksburg coach Barbara Hartzog said. &#8220We weren’t aggressive.”

Vicksburg actually led 8-6 after one quarter before starting its slide. Forest Hill outscored the Missy Gators 13-2 in the second period to take a 19-10 halftime lead and was never threatened again. A pair of layups by Jenkins were Vicksburg’s only field goals in the middle two quarters.

St. Al awarded forfeits after Richland fails to show up.

St. Aloysius’ basketball teams picked up a pair of forfeits Monday night when Richland failed to show up for a scheduled boys and girls game at St. Al.

Game officials waited for 30 minutes and with no phone call or word from Richland, the game was called, giving the St. Al girls and boys a pair of 2-0 wins. The game was on the officials’ scheduling manifest out of Jackson, making it a contractual contest. Richland could face a fine by the Mississippi High School Activities Association for not calling to cancel the contest by its scheduled 6 p.m. tip off.

The St. Al girls (2-2) and boys (3-0) travel to Madison St. Joseph tonight.