Grangers look to stay perfect
Published 6:18 pm Monday, December 2, 2019
By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY
Daily News
It was a perfect November for the LaGrange Grangers.
In a month that included a dramatic double-overtime victory over Hampton, LaGrange High’s boys’ basketball team played five games, and it won them all.
LaGrange will try to continue its perfect start when it hosts Harris County on Tuesday, with the girls’ game tipping off at 6 p.m., and the boys’ game to follow.
A key to LaGrange’s success so far has been its offensive balance.
There has been a different leading scorer in every game.
D.J. Burks scored 19 points in the season opener against
Northside-Columbus, and Kobe Jones, Earley Sanders, Javon Brown and Nafis Carson were tops in points in the four games to follow.
“We had a different leading scorer again,” LaGrange head coach Mark Veal said following last week’s home win over Hampton. “We’re just pleased with this month.”
LaGrange’s girls’ team, meanwhile has won two consecutive to improve to 3-3.
LaGrange can move above .500 for the first time this season with a win over Harris County.
Also this week, the Troup boys’ and girls’ teams will try to continue their hot starts when they visit East Coweta on Friday.
Troup’s girls’ team improved to 4-0 with a wild, double-overtime 67-62 win over Greenville on Friday night.
Greenville rallied from an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter to pull even, and both teams scored six points in the first overtime.
Troup, with senior Amber Gilbert leading the way with 24 points, outscored Greenville 12-7 in the second overtime to put it away.
While winning games is important, Troup head coach Carla Thornton is also focused on having everything in place by the time the region schedule begins in January.
“We’re looking at some different lineups,” Thornton said. “It’s all about chemistry, so we’re working on that.”
Troup’s boys’ team is 3-1 after thumping Greenville 60-47, and head coach Blake Craft was pleased with the defensive effort.
“We held them to around 12 points a quarter, which is what we want to do,” Craft said. “If you do that you’ll have a chance to win a basketball game.”
Craft is pleased with the way the players are absorbing what the coaches have been trying to teach them.
“They’re taking what we’re saying, and they’re listening to it,” Craft said.
Callaway High’s teams were supposed to begin their seasons this week, but their games have been postponed since the football team is still playing.
Callaway’s games against Valley, Newnan and LaGrange scheduled for this week won’t be played.
In private-school basketball, LaGrange Academy’s boys’ and girls’ teams will each play twice this week
LaGrange Academy hosts Oak Mountain on Tuesday and Furtah Prep on Friday.
Lafayette Christian’s boys’ team will host Konos Academy on Tuesday, and the girls’ and boys’ teams will visit Harvester Christian on Thursday.
THIS WEEK’S GAMES
TUESDAY
Harris County at LaGrange, 6 p.m.
Oak Mountain at LaGrange Academy, 6 p.m.
Konos Academy at Lafayette Christian, 5 p.m. (boys only)
THURSDAY
Lafayette Christian at Harvester, 5 p.m.
FRIDAY
Troup at East Coweta, 6 p.m.
Furtah Prep at LaGrange Academy, 6 p.m.