Melrose District Champs

Walking up to the game and seeing about 200 hundred people outside and I knew one thing, this was the biggest game of the week by far. Melrose and White Station has turned into quite the rivalry after both teams won on the others home floor with Melrose beating the Spartans by double digits two weeks ago. Early on, Melrose looked uncomfortable trying to figure out how to find holes in White Station’s 2-3 zone as they found themselves down 7-0 to start the first quarter. Jermaine Holliman hit a 3 and University of Tennessee committ Chris Jones hit a 3 as Melrose went on an 11-0 run to get them going as they ended the quarter 17-17. In the second half, a couple of foul calls went against Melrose and their frustration started to show. Andre Hollins who had 13 in the first half, scored 8 straight points as went into the second half of play up 10, 40-30. With Melrose being in a little bit of foul troube from the 1st half, things looked a little gloomy to start the 3rd quarter. Down 12, senior Nate Rucker became involved and became involved heavily the rest of the game. The 6′6 forward converted an and 1 to end the quarter 50-46 but he wasn’t nearly done. He score again to start the 4th on a short short that seemed to touch every part of the rim, got another basket plus the foul to make it a 1 point game with 6:00 minutes but then it happened!!! The dunk of the year!!!! Rucker caught it turned on the right side of the rim and exploded up and dunked it one handed with extension  for the Amare Stoudemire esque dunk on  Jordan Miles.  They went up 1 after that play but the game wasn’t over quite yet. Joe Jackson made it look easy with the baseline jumper but Jones would rebound a missed 3 by Holliman with 2:29 left in the game. Both teams traded baskets until a big turnover on a possession as White Station tried to feed the post. Jones would be fouled putting Melrose up 2 and they would not relinquish the lead from that point on. Hollins scored on a short 2 with under 30 seconds left as Melrose would have to make big free throws down the stretch to seal it. Junior Adonis Thomas who had 18 for the game would hit two big ones before another big turnover by White Station gave the Golden Wildcats a district championship for a 71-64 win.

Leading all scorers was Chris Jones with 22 points followed by  Jackson’s 20. After the 13 point 1st half, Hollins ended with 16. Region action will begin Saturday with both teams hosting game at their home gyms.

District Title Game: Girls

Central was just to much for White Station as they got a total team effort and good shooting from senior Finesse James who hit 3 3 pointers as Central won the district for the second straight year in a romp over White Station, 72-45

Below are all girl and boys district tournament teams

Girls

1. Jasmine Settles White Station

2.Jasmine Gardner Mitchell

3. Monique Mcconnell Mitchell

4.Amber Williams  White Station

5.Breanna Ridgell White Station

6.Tanesha Wright  Whitehaven

7.Nina Davis Central

8. Danielle Ballard Central

9.Nina Davis Central

10.Jalen O’Bannon Central

11.Aaliyah Whiteside Central (MVP)

Academic Award

Darianne Butler 4.8 GPA

Boys

1. John Ingram Mitchell

2.Julian Burton White Station

3. Joe Jackson White Station

4. Andre Hollins White Station

5. Tim Peete Central

6. Jarnell Stokes Central

7. Devontae Hampton Melrose

8. Adonis Thomas Melrose

9. Chris Jones Melrose

10.Nate Rucker Melrose (MVP)

Academic Awards :

Leonard Draper 3.8 Mitchell GPA

Shamar Nolen 3.8 Mitchell GPA

John Ingram 3.8 GPA

Adonis Thomas 4.4  GPA