Patience was the message Porters Chapel boy’s basketball coach Stacey Sykes preached to his team as they rallied from a four-point deficit to start the fourth quarter against Tensas Academy. The Eagles went on a 14-6 run to finish the game and beat the Chiefs 43-39.

“Whenever we get the lead I try to preach our guys to be patient, move the ball, use the clock in our favor,” Sykes said. “Most of the time it gets people out of their rhythm on the offensive win.”

Patrick Minor and Leon Simms each contributed five points in the comeback and showed aggression all game.

Minor grabbed 10 rebounds in addition to his fourth quarter point production.

His defensive pressure was able to shut down the Chiefs’ Seth Brown, who didn’t score any points in the fourth quarter but finished with 25 for the night.

Simms scored 17 points on 2-of-4 from three-point range and grabbed three rebounds and a steal.

Sykes said Simms is starting to grow into the point guard position.

“He’s understanding how to be a general on the floor. How to be a point guard, when to press the tempo on the offense and when to slow it down,” Sykes said.

Porters Chapel and Tensas previously met on Nov. 16 as the Eagles lost 59-38, but since then, Eagles have begun to find their identity.

“I think we’re understanding we can’t just run up and down with other teams. We got to take the opportunities they give us,” Sykes said. “I’m preaching patience to them and they’re getting it and I’m proud of them for it.”

 

[G] Tensas 43, PCA 19

The Lady Eagles faced their toughest opponent this season and couldn’t get any traction going for them.

They committed 19 turnovers against a team who was much bigger and better at shooting.

“Probably the best team that we’ve played. They’re very solid just all the way around. All five girls on the floor are shooter and that makes it more difficult,” said Lady Eagles coach Amanda Yocum.

The Lady Eagles had 13 turnovers off of bad passes and not stepping up to catch the ball, which is something they’ll go back and work on in practice.

Tensas moved the ball well and was able to find loopholes in Porters Chapel zone defense to score. They also made quick passes and took clean, efficient shots.

Yocum said the team did a better job at making outside shots and hit 2-of-3 three-point attempts and gave good effort.

“When it gets rough like that out there, you’re losing, teams are bigger than you are and are better shooters it’s easy to start getting chippy and take some cheap shots and that kind of stuff, but I thought we did really well maintaining our composure and just continuing to play,” Yocum said.