The Nevada Blue Jays allowed the Blevins Hornets to draw first blood but the 0-2 score would be one of the few times in the game that the Jays trailed their rivals. The Jays won, 71-62.
The senior boys’ game was the first home game of Nevada’s season.
The Hornets scored first after a foul put Blevins at the free throw line. The Jays quickly recovered and began to work on tiring the Blevins players – a feat that took most of the game.
With four minutes left in the first period, the Jays were up, 10-6, but a three-point shot by a Blevins player narrowed the Jays’ lead to one. Then a pass intended for Tony Beasley was intercepted and Blevins scored, briefly taking the lead. The Jays returned with a basket and then an interception of their own, taking the score to 14-11.
Blevins scored again before the Jay’s Roy Pollins made three from left of the key and was fouled. The free throw was good and the Jays held the lead, 18-13. It took the Hornets only about 12 seconds to make their next shot, but the Jays quickly scored another three of their own, taking the score to 21-15.
A foul called by officials against Nevada drew Jay fans and Coach Bobby Mullins to their feet. Both shots were good the score moved to 21-17.
Tre’ McGhee set up Robert Weaver who easily make the layup and when the Jays again took possession, there was a foul and the Jays were ahead by seven with less than a minute left in the first period. Cordell Mixon made two at the buzzer and the score was 26-19 going into the second period.
The Hornets grabbed a missed shot and made a run to the key before the Jays could set up their defense, decreasing that lead to five. When the Jays again turned over a rebound, Blevins made the run and shot from outside, putting the score at 26-24. The scene replayed and this time Blevins tied the score at 26.
Both teams threw away opportunities to take the lead but it was the Jays who finally made good with a free throw by Tony Beasley. The Jays quickly rebounded the next missed shot by Blevins. Though the Jays didn’t manage a score, Trey Beasley was fouled. There was no score on that foul but it was followed closely by a foul against Jays’ Tre’ McGhee, the ninth against Blevins. McGhee made good on the shot and the Jays increased the lead to two, 28-26.
With just two minutes left in the second, Tony Paden was fouled and made two shots, lengthening the Jays’ lead to three points and the Jays quickly capitalized on a missed shot by Blevins, taking the score to 31-26 and the period ended, 36-30.
There was more of the give and take during the second half though the Jays remained aggressive while Blevins seemed to lag slightly. With just minutes left to play, the score sat at 69-61. The Jays made only one more basket and Blevins managed to make one more free throw, taking the final score to 71-62.
Rosston, Ark. —
