By Daniel Evans

The Selma Times-Journal

Morgan Academy had its chances Friday against Marengo Academy, but missed free throws and a couple of defensive breakdowns proved costly in the Senators’ 43-35 loss to the Longhorns in the first game of the Morgan Pepsi Classic.

The Senators led the fifth-ranked Longhorns after three quarters, but Marengo scored 17 of the first 21 points in the fourth quarter. With the game on the line, the Marengo offense played its most efficient quarter of the game, as the Longhorns scored on backdoor cuts, hard fought rebounds, and by beating the Senators down the floor.

“I think they wanted a couple of loose balls more than we did and they got a couple of second chances we didn’t get,” Morgan Academy coach Jacob Lyon said. “They did a good job finishing on those.”

Missed free throws also came back to bite Morgan. The Senators (6-7) missed five three throws in the final period, including two after a technical foul had been called on the Longhorns (11-1) with 1:25 left.

“Free throws were big,” Lyon said. “They made their free throws late, and we couldn’t covert when we got to the line.”

The Senators pulled within 36-32 after the technical free throw by John Ross Bone. With time dwindling, Morgan fouled the Longhorns, who missed a free throw, which was rebounded by Woodham Kemmer. Marengo’s Cason Cook stole the ball from Kemmer, made a layup and was fouled with 44 seconds to play.

Cook, who scored 11 points in the game, essentially put the game away. The Senators failed to make another shot until Jackson Henderson’s three-pointer with 7.5 seconds left but by that time it was 43-35 Longhorns.

“We started running the ball the second half a little bit and got a few fastbreak points,” Marengo coach Larry Huckabee said. “Right there towards the end, they started fouling a little bit and we hit a few free throws.”

The loss was the third consecutive for the Senators, who lost two games in the Border Wars Classic earlier this week.

Henderson led Morgan with 11 points scored in the game, and Kemmer scored nine points.

 

EMCA 76, Morgan 50 (Boys)

John Ross Bone scored 18 points to lead Morgan Academy in the Senators’ second game of the Morgan Pepsi Classic, but it wasn’t enough.

The Senators fell to EMCA 76-50 Friday night.

Morgan fell behind 9-0 early but pulled within five at the half before EMCA went on a big run in the third period.