Poor shooting NMCC can't keep up with West Memphis

NEW MADRID -- Finding themselves down by 24 at the half, the New Madrid County Central Eagles were unable to keep up with a high scoring West Memphis Blue Devil's offense that kept pumping out points in the second half.

With 11 players on West Memphis' roster contributing at least a basket, the Blue Devils rolled to a 58-23 win.

"When you're playing against West Memphis, they're always going to be pretty talented and a well-coached team," Eagles coach Travis Day said. "They made us pay for our slow start"

Unable to score in the first quarter, NMCC was left in a 20-0 hole by time their offense finally warmed up early in the second.

"We started slow and when we finally got out there and started forcing them to turn the ball over we looked a little better," Day said.

It was just as the second began that Earl Grissom kick-started NMCC's offense with a two-pointer that finally got his team on the board and started what was a 13-point quarter.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, West Memphis' offense showed no signs of slowing down, adding 17 of their own in the second before outscoring NMCC 21-10 in the second half to put the game away.

Leading NMCC's comeback attempt was G'Darius Stevenson and his 13 points on the game.

Following Stevenson was Jamareia Jones whose four points was good for second on the squad.

For West Memphis, DeMarcus McVay's had a game-high 16 points while Jalen Jackson's eight points came in second on the Blue Devils.

West Memphis 20 17 15 6 -- 58

NMCC 0 13 8 2 -- 23

WEST MEMPHIS (58) -- Arthur Jackson 6, Jalen Jackson 8, Cleotis Washington 2, Anthony Wiley 2, Dominick Tolbert 3, Tony Jeffries 7, Christian Carson 4, DeMarcus McVay 16, Greg Motley 2, Arnarius Stewart 2, Darius Williams 4. FG 26, FT 3-6, F 7. (3-pointers: Jalen Jackson 1. Fouled out: none).

NMCC (23) -- Lamonte Nelson 2, Jamareia Jones 4, G'Darius Stevenson 13, Earl Grissom 2, CJ Chism 2. FG 10, FT 3-6, F 6. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none).

Covington, Tenn. 65, Pine Bluff, Ark. 26

NEW MADRID -- Building a 12-point lead by the end of the first quarter, the Covington Chargers had no troubles in putting away the Pine Bluff Zebras.

Coming into the half already up 37-13, the Chargers continued to outscore the Zebra in the final two quarters as they cruised to a 65-26 win.

Covington senior Demetrius Claybon easily led the Chargers, racking up 20 points, including three three-pointers while connecting on his lone free-throw attempt.

It was a three way tie for second for Covington as Darrius Foster, Devin Wakefield and Dexter Moore all contributed eight points.

For the Zebras, Darrion Kee led the charge with eight points on the night as Charles West came in second on the team with six.

Covington 16 21 23 5 -- 65

Pine Bluff 4 9 10 3 -- 26

COVINGTON (65) -- Demetrius Claybon 20, Devione Draine 3, Darrius Foster 8, Bernard Hurd 4, Devin Wakefield 8, Dexter Moore 8, Adrian Frost 2, Carnelius Edwards 4, Jawan Alston 4, Jerrain Foster 2, Shelton Lyons 2. FG 25, FT 7-8, F 12. (3-pointers: Demetrius Claybon 3, Devione Draine 1, Darrius Foster 2, Devin Wakefield 2. Fouled out: none).

PINE BLUFF (26) -- Charles West 6, Joe Love 3, Darrion Kee 8, Jay Love 5, Justin Earnest 4. FG 10, FT 6-8, F 10. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none).