Lions take third over Red Devils at Harmony Grove tournament

HASKELL — Jessieville’s senior high boys’ basketball team earned third place in the Bill Gibbs Memorial Tournament on Saturday with a 65-53 win over Mountain Pine at Haskell Harmony Grove.

The Red Devils (3-3) took a 17-13 lead after the opening quarter and held a 2926 lead over the Lions (6-3) at halftime. Jessieville pulled ahead, 43-40, by the start of the fourth quarter.

“We looked tired today defensively, but we were able to get in a groove in the second half and I think early in the third quarter was the turning point in the game,” said Jessieville head boys’ basketball coach Jared White.

“We had balanced scoring today and that’s always good to see multiple guys step up. We have to get off to better starts as we enter the conference season.”

Senior Braxton Shiflett led the Lions with 16 points. Senior Tyler Holloway scored 14 points and junior B.J. Holloway added 12, while junior Chase Pedersen and sophomore Landen Daley each added 10.

The host Cardinals (5-3) won the final on Saturday night, 64-57, over the Bauxite Miners (4-5).

Jessieville hosted rival Fountain Lake

(8-1) on Tuesday. The Lions are scheduled to go on the road to Lamar (2-4) on Friday.

Mountain Pine lost, 74-67, in overtime at the England Invitational on Monday to the host Lions (4-2). The Red Devils hosted Ouachita (9-5) on Tuesday are scheduled to meet Stuttgart (4-0) in the second round of the tournament at England on Thursday.