After completing the 2017 calendar year with a big tournament championship, the now 15-2, 2-0 Gentry High Rams begin 2018 with a three game string of Region 3-4A contests.
Riding a six game win streak, the Rams also own the most wins in the state among 4A schools and are ranked No. 4 in their classification.
In their most recent play, the Rams claimed the championship of the Hattiesburg Coca Cola Classic played last weekend by picking up three victories in as many days.
With that success now behind them, the Rams turn their focus back to regional play as they will now be traveling to Greenwood High School this Friday for a 7 p.m clash against the Bulldogs.
Next Tuesday will then find Gentry Head Coach Chico Potts’ squad at Clarksdale High School for an additional 7 p.m. regional game
As for last week’s successful tournament action, the Rams opened their play last Thursday in Hattiesburg with a convincing 77-45 decision over Wayne County High of Waynesboro.
This was followed on Friday by a nail-biting 46-44 win over Holmes County Central High of Lexington.
Returning to the court again on Saturday, the Rams then earned an impressive 75-65 championship game victory over Hattiesburg High School.
“We played pretty well”, said Coach Potts, “and were fortunate enough to win some tough games.”
With the team playing “pretty well” enough to claim the tournament crown, All-Tournament accolades were given to four Gentry High players. Included in this group was Cartisco Brown, who was selected as the Most Valuable Player of this prestigious tournament.
Joining Brown on the All-Tournament team were Darrius Clark, D’Mandrick Boatwright, and Ernest Minton.
In the Rams’ tournament-clinching 10-point victory over Hattiesburg High, Brown led all scorers with 30 points while Reginald Bolden reached double figures with his 11 points scored. Meanwhile, Minton was a force under the basket as he accumulated 10 rebounds in this contest.
In their narrowest outing of the weekend, the Rams earned their two point victory over Holmes County behind Clark and Boatwright, who posted 13 and 11 points respectively on the scoreboard.
The Rams opened their tournament play with a 32 point decision over Wayne County as Brown ripped the net for 31 points while Clark’s double double included a dozen points and 10 rebounds.
Minton’s 13 rebounds also enabled him to reach double digit status in that particular category.
