Wildcats take fifth at Eldorado

Jay Kemp scored on a lay-up with four seconds remaining in the game to give Anna-Jonesboro a 40-38 win over Fairfield in the fifth place game at the Eldorado Holiday Tournament in boys’ high school basketball action Wednesday, Dec. 28.

With just seconds remaining, the Wildcats took a time out to attempt to halt the final play by the Mules.

“We took a time out and wanted them to catch the ball in front of us,” A-J basketball coach Mike Chamness said.

On the inbound pass, Fairfield threw the ball deep and A-J’s Brady Wright got in front of the intended player and intercepted the ball to preserve the win.

“I’m very, very pleased the way we played,” Chamness said. “We played from behind the whole game.”

Kemp’s lay-up  gave the Wildcats their first lead of the game.

The Mules led 14-9 after one quarter and 23-17 at halftime. Fairfield led 34-25 heading into the final period. A-J outscored the Mules 15-4 in the final period. Fairfield only made 4 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Travis Smith scored 16 points and pulled down 4 rebounds to lead A-J. Wright had 10 points and 5 rebounds, Kemp had 6 points, Tyler Vaughn added 4 points and Noah Fuller 2.

The Wildcats shot 44 percent (16-36) from the field. They shot 3 of 11 from 3-point range, 13-25 from 2-point range and 5 of 6 from the free throw line.

The Mules also shot 44 percent (16-36) from the field. They shot 2 of 7 from 3-point range, 14 of 29 from 2-point range and 4 of 6 from the free throw line.

Wright was named to the all-tournament team.

“We wanted to play four games there (at Eldorado) and we did that,” Chamness said. “We’re playing pretty well right now in the first portion of our season.”

The Wildcats finished the tournament with a 3-1 record.

Following are other turney game summaries:

 A-J 60, Gallatin County 54: Wright scored 21 points and had 8 rebounds to lead the Wildcats to the win earlier Wednesday, Dec. 28.

Fuller added 13 points and a rebound for the Wildcats. Smith had 12 points and 3 rebounds, Vaughn had 7 points, Cody Garver 4 points, Kemp 2 points and 2 rebounds and Andrew Nixon had 1 point.

The Wildcats shot 49 percent (22-45) from the field. They shot 4 of 11 from 3-point range, 18 of 34 from 2-point range and 12 of 20 from the free throw line.

Gallatin County shot 62 percent (21-34) from the field. They were 3 of 6 from 3-point range, 18 of 28 from 2-point range and 9 of 16 from the free throw line.

Meridian 66, A-J 35: The Wildcats couldn’t hold a first quarter lead in the loss Tuesday, Dec. 27.

A-J led 13-12 after one quarter. The Bobcats made a 19-6 run in the second quarter to build a 31-19 halftime advantage. Meridian led 50-29 heading into the final period.

Wright had 8 points and 2 rebounds to lead A-J. Kemp had 8 points, Smith had 7 points and a rebound and Vaughn and Fuller each had 4 points and a rebound. Jarid Veronesi scored 2 points and had 6 rebounds and Garver added 2 points.

The Wildcats shot 36 percent (14-39) from the field. They were 2 of 11 from 3-point range, 12 of 28 from 2-point range and 5 of 13 from the free throw line.

The Bobcats shot 53 percent (28-53) from the field. They shot 3 of 8 from 3-point range, 25 of 45 from 2-point range and 7 of 13 from the free throw line.

A-J, 7-6, is scheduled to play Friday at home against Nashville.