Along with the new calendar year, the Gentry High basketball teams have now entered the most important portion of their schedule.
For a four-game run of Region 2-5A competition began this past Tuesday night with a visit to Cleveland Central High School.
The outcome of that night’s play initially saw the now 13-4, 1-0 Lady Rams claim a 33-21 victory over the Cleveland squad.
Moments later the now 8-9, 0-1 Rams dropped a 54-41 decision to the Wolves.
Regional play will continue tonight when Canton High School visits the Gentry High gymnasium.
Next Tuesday will then find the Gentry squads at Yazoo City High School for the third of the four consecutive regional dates on the schedule.
The Lady Rams will tipoff at 6 p.m. each night while the Rams will take the court immediately following.
In Tuesday night’s clash with Cleveland Central High, Za’Kensly Yarbor paced the Lady Rams’ scoring with 11 points while the Rams’ offensive effort was led by DeMarion Gibson and ZaCarius Johnson.
The pair added 19 and 13 points respectively to the Rams’ point total against the Wolves.
Meanwhile, the Gentry High squads entered this current extended run of regional dates following last weekend’s successful play in the Hattiesburg Coca-Cola Holiday Classic.
While both Gentry teams lost last Thursday’s opening game of the tournament, they rebounded on Friday and Saturday with victories over competition from south Mississippi.
In last Thursday’s opening game of the tournament, the Lady Rams fell by a 35-24 margin to Jefferson Davis County High of Prentiss.
It was Za’Kensly Yarbor pacing the scoring for Gentry High in this game as she dropped a dozen points through the basket.
One day later, the Lady Rams claimed a 57-39 decision over North Forrest High of Hattiesburg. On this occasion, it was Jordan Holmes leading the Lady Rams offense with her 18-point game.
Za’Kensly Yarbor also reached double digits offensively as she posted 14 points on the Gentry High side of the scoreboard.
In last Saturday’s final tournament appearance, the Lady Rams used the double digit scoring of three players to earn a 59-43 victory over Magee High School.
Za’Kensly Yarbor’s 14-point game once again led her team’s scoring with her third consecutive double figure performance in the tournament.
Close behind was X’zaylah Yarbor with 12 points while Breniyah Myrick added another 11 points to the Lady Rams’ point total.
In boys’ action, last Thursday the Rams also fell to Jefferson Davis County High by a narrow 41-39 margin.
Just like their girl counterparts, the Rams came back on Friday with a victory as they handed D’Iberville High School a 43-37 loss.
The Rams then completed their tournament play on Saturday in positive fashion by defeating Oak Grove High School by a 47-40 score.
