A flurry of basketball action ends the old year and begins the new one for the Gentry High School basketball program.
For this past Tuesday night, the Lady Rams and Rams played their final game of the 2025 calendar year when North Panola High School of Sardis visited the Gentry High gymnasium.
Because of an early printing deadline due to the New Year’s Day holiday, results of that night’s play were unavailable at press time.
However, the Rams carried a 9-7 record into their contest while the Lady Rams were hoping to improve on their 4-11 won-loss mark.
As for the opening of the 2026 portion of their schedule, the Gentry High squads will begin the new year today by playing their first Region 4-4A game of the season.
Taking a trip to Greenwood High School, the Lady Rams will begin the night’s play with their 6 p.m. matchup; the Rams will battle the Bulldogs immediately thereafter.
Another regional clash will then occur next Tuesday when Yazoo City High School comes to town.
Game time for that night’s action also begins with the Lady Rams taking the court at 6 p.m.
As for their most recent pre-Christmas Day action, the Rams were strong as they claimed three consecutive victories.
With their most recent victory earned two days prior to Christmas Day, the Rams claimed a 67-37 decision over Riverside High of Avon.
Playing at Northside High in Shelby, the Rams used good defense and double figure scoring from Otis Cole (17 points) and Kevion Smith (10 points) to fuel their victory.
The Rams preceded this victory one night earlier in Shelby with a 52-23 rout of West Bolivar High School of Shaw.
Smith once again hit double digits with his team-high 15 points while Kriston Jones and Draven Walker posted eight points apiece on the scoreboard.
Prior to participating in that tournament, the Rams earned a 64-36 home-court victory over Humphreys County High of Belzoni.
Cole’s double double paced the Rams in this game as he bucketed 16 points while also pulling down 13 rebounds.
However, Smith matched Cole’s scoring effort with his own 16-point outing while Walker was close behind with a strong 15-point night of play.
In girls’ action, the Lady Rams won two of their three games played.
Claiming their pair of victories in the Northside High Tournament, the Lady Rams opened their play in this tournament with a 38-15 win over West Bolivar High School.
One night later, the Gentry squad handed Riverside High of Avon a 36-17 loss.
Against the Lady Bulldogs of Riverside High, a double double performance (11 points, 11 rebounds) by Alaysa Minniefield highlighted the night’s play.
However, it was Rhinya Ginn’s 14 points scored which would lead the Gentry High offensive effort against the team from Avon.
In their victory over West Bolivar High, Minniefield and Ginn once again led their team’s scoring effort by posting 10 and nine points respectively on the scoreboard.
The lone loss suffered by the Lady Rams prior to Christmas Day was a hard-fought 40-36 loss to visiting Humphreys County High School from Belzoni.
