The Jackson Academy JV Basketball Teams traveled last week to Hattiesburg, MS for the 5A State Basketball Tournament at Presbyterian Christian School. The Girls entered the tournament as a #2 seed and earned a first round bye. They faced Copiah Academy on Thursday in the Semifinals. During the regular season they lost at home to the Lady Colonels 43-40 but got their revenge in a big way in Gallman as they toppled them 39-32. The Semifinal matchup was one of the most complete games the Lady Raiders played all year as they led from start to finish. After leading by just two points at the end of a quarter, JA outscored Copiah 37-15 in the final three frames to run away with a 45-21 victory. JA entered the Championship Game on a seven game win streak, and also had earned a regular season split with the Lady Patriots. JA struggled to start, as MRA scored the first nine of the contest before JA finally got on the board in the last 30 seconds with a steal and score by Kate Frost. JA trimmed the deficit to four at the 1:17 mark before MRA closed the half leading by eight. In the second half the Lady Raiders were able to close the gap to six, but could never get any closer as they fell 29-20. They finished with a 13-8 record as Frost led all scorers with 9 points, 8 rebounds and 6 steals.

The Boys were the #3 seed so they played a Quarterfinal matchup against Presbyterian Christian on Monday night and won in convincing fashion 46-21 sweeping all three games they played against the Bobcats. That placed the JV Boys in the Semifinals against Copiah Academy which they lost to twice in the regular season at JA (58-53) and in Gallman (50-46). They had a lead in both of those contests but could never seal the deal. That was the complete opposite in Hattiesburg as they dominated the game from start to finish after giving up the first four points of the game JA went on a 17-4 run to close the first quarter leading 17-8. Once JA got the lead to double figures in the second quarter the Colonels were never able to get any closer as the Raiders held a twenty point lead at halftime. JA finished off the game with a 18-6 fourth quarter as they won 72-41. In the Championship Game it was a much different contest as the Raiders took on Jackson Prep in a defensive struggle that saw the two teams combine for just 53 total points. The first three minutes saw each team exchange baskets and a 2-2 tie. Robert Flantroy, after a double-double on Thursday, suffered a foot injury early and had to leave the game. Foster Meacham came in and provided quite the spark for the Raiders hitting three first quarter free throws to help lead JA to a 5-4 lead. The second quarter featured two big Andrew Lee three-pointers that helped tie the game 8-8 and give JA a lead heading into halftime. Prep started the second half on a 9-0 run that was answered by a 8-0 run by the Raiders to end the third quarter leading 23-21. The Patriots closed it to a one point game early in the fourth before JA closed the game on a 6-2 run as they won the State Championship 29-24. Devin Mitchell led the Raiders with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Lee chipped in 9 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals. Brister Robertson had 5 points, 3 steals and a rebound.

Girls Championship Stats
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Boys Championship Stats
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