Calhoun County, Monroe dominate in big wins
Calhoun County senior Zecharaih Canidate puts in two of his game-high 17 points during Tuesday night’s win over Stewart County. Canidate and the Cougars used a smothering defense and rapid transitions to blowout the visiting Knights in the season opener in Edison.
By Joe WhitfieldBy Joe Whitfield
Sports Editor
EDISON — The No. 3-ranked Calhoun County Cougars wasted no time making a statement in their basketball season opener Tuesday night, dominating visiting Stewart County with an 87-20 victory. The Calhoun County girls’ team also started strong, securing a 49-25 win.
The Cougars and Knights were tied at 9-9 midway through the first quarter when Calhoun County Head Coach Marcus Shaw called a timeout. Whatever Shaw said during the break sparked an immediate turnaround. The Cougars closed the quarter on a 10-1 run and opened the second quarter with 12 unanswered points to take a commanding 31-10 lead.
Calhoun County’s stifling full-court press created numerous turnovers and easy scoring opportunities, leaving the Knights frustrated and unable to find quality shots. While the Cougars are known for their three-point shooting, their defense and fast breaks made long-range attempts unnecessary early in the game. However, when Dallas George hit a deep three-pointer with more than three minutes left in the half, the Cougars extended their lead to 45-12.
Coach Shaw rotated players throughout the game, but the Cougars’ relentless defense continued to overwhelm the Knights, who managed just eight points in the second half.
Zechariah Canidate led all scorers with 17 points, followed by Darnell Enocher with 13, Tremayne Johnson Jr. with 12, and Kenari Harris with 10.
In the girls’ game, the Lady Cougars built a 23-10 halftime lead and maintained control for the rest of the contest. Dezthani Jackson paced Calhoun County with 16 points, while Treasure Hollinger added 13, and Emory Jackson scored nine.
The Cougars will travel to Quitman County for their next game Friday night.
Monroe dominates in Dawson
DAWSON — The Monroe Golden Tornadoes earned their first basketball win of the season Tuesday night, rolling past the Terrell County Greenwave 73-37 in Dawson. The Lady Golden Tornadoes followed suit, cruising to a dominant 72-23 victory over the Lady Greenwave.
Monroe’s boys took control early, jumping out to an 18-5 lead in the first quarter and never looking back. Lamond Seadrow led the Golden Tornadoes with 14 points, while Brayden Burns and Nehemiah Tinch each contributed 11 points, and Lorenzo Still added 10.
Cordarius Perry and Jaylen Perry each scored 12 points for Terrell County in the loss.
The Lady Tornadoes were equally impressive, dominating from the opening tip and building an insurmountable lead early. Kie’Aundria Acree delivered a stellar performance, finishing with 35 points, 21 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. Taylor McKinzy added 26 points, six rebounds, and six steals in the win.
Monroe will next play at Lee County on December 6.
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