By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

 

The Morgan Academy Senators’ boys dominated the opening period and set the tone for the entire game, as they defeated the Clarke Prep Gators 51-20 in their opening game of the Morgan Pepsi Classic Tournament on Wednesday.

Senators’ head basketball coach Bob Taylor said Morgan (6-4) played well on both ends of the court, but will have a different challenge in its next game against Hooper Academy.

“We played good defense, we ran our offense when we needed to, and we did what we had to do and just played pretty well,” Taylor said. “Tomorrow is going to be a little bit different matchup. They’re very athletic. Hooper gets up and down the floor real quick.”

The Senators came out on fire, opening the game on a 10-0 run and ending the quarter with a 13-1 lead, which included a three pointer from Connor Henderson and a pair of threes from Dalton Lee.

The Senators would maintain the momentum in the second quarter, allowing only one Gators’ basket from the field, and took 21-4 lead into the half.

Morgan would outscore Clarke Prep 30-16 in the second half.

Lee led the Senators with 14 points, while Henderson added 12 points and Zack Singh added 8 points for Morgan.

The Senators will play Hooper Academy Thursday at 6:30 p.m. for the tournament championship, while the Gators will play Southern Academy at 3:30 p.m. for third place. Taylor said Hooper is a versatile defensive team, and the Senators will have to play their brand of basketball to get the W.

“They’ve got real active hands. They run a 1-3-1, to man, to press,” Taylor said. “They do a lot of different things well. We’ve just got to come out and play our game and do what we’re supposed to do.”

Lady Senators lose close game to Clarke prep

 

The Morgan Academy Senators’ girl’s basketball team only trailed by two entering the final quarter, but couldn’t muster up enough offense, as they fell 41-30 to the Clarke Prep Lady Gators in their opening game of the Morgan Pepsi Classic Tournament on Wednesday.

Morgan girls’ head basketball coach Rand Smith said the Senators (1-10) showed some improvement, but just didn’t have enough to capture the win.

“We’re getting better, we’re improving,” Smith said.

“We played great in some stretches, but we just couldn’t finish it off in the end.”

The Senators trailed 26-25 with 2:55 left in the third when Lindsey Yeldell drained a jumper from mid range to put Morgan ahead by one.

The Lady Gators would tie the game at 27-27 on a Libby Harrigan free throw with 1:40 left in the quarter.

Clarke Prep would take the lead on a Katherine Gwin basket in the paint with 0:13 left in the quarter to enter the fourth with a 29-27 lead.

The Lady Gators would open the quarter with a basket by Harrigan to put them up 31-27, but Morgan would fight back, as Casey Baggitt hit a three to make the score 31-30 with 6:40 left.

But the Senators would go cold and the Lady Gators would go 6 of 8 from the free throw line down the stretch.

Kendall Veach led the Senators with 13 points and Yeldell had 8 points.

Harrigan led Clarke Prep with 17 points and Gwin had 15 points.

Clarke Prep will play Hooper Academy Thursday at 5 p.m. for the tournament championship, while Morgan will play Southern Academy at 2 p.m. for third place.

Smith said the Senators will enter the game against Southern with a positive attitude.