In what can only be described as an instant classic, Yazoo City junior guard Daon Henry capped the Indians 71-69 overtime victory over rival Yazoo County with a last-second driving layup that sent the more than 1,500 fans crammed inside Yazoo City High School’s Archie Carlyle gymnasium into a court-storming frenzy.
Once the dust settled and he had a chance to reflect on the win, YHS head coach Anthony Carlyle praised his guard, who has steadily improved and is beginning to live up to expectations.
“I hope that he is starting to see what I’ve been preaching to him about working hard every day,” said Carlyle. “He put in a lot of work this summer and its showing. You hope the success he’s experienced the first 11 games will fuel him to work even harder going forward.”
Before Henry’s final heroics took place, the Indians and Panthers battled tooth and nail for four quarters and needed the extra period to determine a winner. Yazoo City opened the game with a 15-7 first quarter, but the Panthers started chipping away at that lead as the second quarter began.
Sparked by five three-pointers in the quarter (three from Martarious Burrell and one each from Kejuan Frierson and Jayden Moorehead) the Panthers were able to claw their way back into the game. Fortunately for the Indians, Jacquarrious Collum got hot from outside as well and knocked down three three-pointers himself to keep the Panthers at bay. Yazoo County outscored Yazoo City 23-19 to pull to within four, 34-30, at halftime.
The Indians started to pull away again as the second half began, going on a 12-3 run to take a 46-33 lead with 2:31 remaining in the third quarter. Showing their championship resilience, the Panthers answered back with an 11-3 run of their own sparked by the play of senior guard John Lewis and trailed 49-44 heading into the fourth and final frame.
Yazoo County continued to fight back as the fourth quarter got underway and after a pair of back-to-back layups midway through the frame the Panthers took a 57-53 lead and the game’s momentum. The two teams traded baskets and clutch free throws down the stretch and the lead changed four times in the final minute of the contest. With the score knotted at 65, YHS guard Percy Green had a chance to win the game in regulation, but his layup attempt rolled around the rim and out as the buzzer sounded, setting up the overtime period.
Burrell opened the OT with a basket but Green tied the score with a driving layup of his own minutes later. Henry and Panther Jemario Bassett each hit a pair of clutch free throws leaving the score tied at 69 with 1:39 left to play. On the Panthers next possession, however, Burrell had a costly turnover, giving the Indians the ball back and Henry the opportunity to save the day.
Henry and Collum led all scorers with a game-high 20 points apiece. William Grayson added 11, F.J. Lewis had six, Green, Jacquaris Rogers and Brandon Brown each had four and Chris Burnett finished with two.
Burrell led a quartet of Panther scorers in double figures with 18 points. Lewis chipped in with 15, Lakevion Dixon had 13 and Bassett 10. Other scorers were Frierson with five, Daveon Luckett with four, Moorehead with three and Hunter Barron with one.
New to the long-standing rivalry, Yazoo County head coach Torrey Dale was impressed with the turnout and pleased with his team’s effort despite the final result.
“We gave the fans a show. This game was very exciting and lived up to all the hype,” said Dale. “While I wish the outcome was different, I wouldn’t change a thing (we did). I trust my guys’ decision making on the offensive end and defensively I couldn’t have asked for a better sequence. He (Henry) just made a big play at home. The amount of time it took for his shot to go in wouldn’t allow us a chance to call a timeout and get another shot. We’ll see them again in the Panther’s Den though.”
Added Carlyle: “We had a great crowd and for it to sell out at 6:05 p.m. was great. It was a great atmosphere for both teams and the fans to be a part of. It felt great to get this win because the kids have been working really hard to improve. We’ve been down the last couple of years and everybody around town has gotten behind the success of the Yazoo County boys, which they have definitely earned, but our kids want to show the town that we can compete as well.”
The two teams will meet again January 3 at Yazoo County.
