Wildcats win consolation title at Eldorado Holiday Tourney
<p class="p1">The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School boys’ basketball team topped Gallatin County 53-39 to win the consolation championship at the Eldorado Holiday Tournament Tuesday, Dec. 29.</p><p class="p1">“We lost our first game and our goal was to play four games and we did that,” A-J coach Mike Chamness said. “I’m very pleased how we ended the year. It turned out to be a good week for us.”</p><p class="p1">The Wildcats finished with a 3-1 record in tournament play.</p><p class="p1">A-J’s Dakota Earnhart was named to the all-tournament team.</p><p class="p1"><strong>A-J 53, Gallatin County 39:</strong> The Wildcats had a big fourth quarter on their way to the win in the consolation championship game.</p><p class="p1">A-J led 13-9 after one quarter and 26-16 at the half. The Wildcats led 33-30 going into the final quarter before making a 20-9 scoring surge.</p><p class="p1">“We got up by 9 at the half and they cut it to 3 at the end of the 3rd quarter,” Chamness said. “We fought back in the last quarter.”</p><p class="p1">Earnhart led the way with 15 points and 5 rebounds. Sheldon McGrath added 13 points and 8 rebounds. </p><p class="p1">Hunter Garver had 11 points and 6 rebounds. Jake Parr had 6 points and 10 rebounds. </p><p class="p1">Ryan Stark had 6 points and 3 rebounds. Wyatt Smith had 2 points and a rebound. Jake Stark had 2 rebounds and Garrett Nimmo added a rebound.</p><p class="p1">The Wildcats were 13 of 23 in shot attempts from the field, 4 of 14 from 3-point range and 15 of 25 from the free throw line. A-J was 10 of 14 from the free throw line in the final period.</p><p class="p1">Gallatin County was 7 of 31 in shot attempts from the floor, 6 of 18 from 3-point range and 7 of 11 from the charity stripe.</p><p class="p1"><strong>A-J 53, Meridian 52:</strong> McGrath hit two free throws with 8 seconds remaining to lift A-J to the win in the semifinals Monday, Dec. 28.</p><p class="p1">“We got a chance to beat a really good Meridian team,” Chamness said. “It was a good win for us confidence wise to win a close game.”</p><p class="p1">The Wildcats built a 17-9 first quarter lead and were ahead 28-25 at the half. A-J led 39-36 going into the final period.</p><p class="p1">Parr led the way with 13 points and 4 rebounds.</p><p class="p1">McGrath added 11 points and 6 rebounds. Earnhart had 9 points and 8 rebounds. </p><p class="p1">Hunter Garver added 9 points. Ryan Stark had 7 points and 2 rebounds. Jake Stark added 2 points.</p><p class="p1">The Wildcats were 15 of 26 in shot attempts from the floor, 5 of 17 from 3-point range and 8 of 14 from the free throw line.</p><p class="p1">The Bobcats were 20 of 43 in shot attempts from the floor, 1 of 3 from 3-point range and 9 of 20 from the charity stripe.</p><p class="p1">A-J, 8-7, is scheduled to play again Friday, Jan. 8, at home against Du Quoin.</p>