Gosnell wins Jennings Tournament opener

Gosnell’s Chase Perkins glides in for a basket as Trumann’s Luke Bishop defends during Gerald Jennings Tournament action in Marked Tree.Cosmo Cossey photos

Marcus Anderson scored 22 points and Kerrion Terry added 12 points as Gosnell beat Trumann 59-47 in the Gerald Jennings Tournament opener at Marked Tree.

Wildcat Luke Bishop looks to score against Gosnell’s Jazten Williams during tournament action in Marked Tree.Cosmo Cossey photos

Terry gave the Pirates the early 2-0 led with a basket in the paint only to see Jalen Elrod throw down a two-handed dunk for Trumann to tie the game at 2-2. Anderson hit a jumper for Gosnell, Elrod hit triple twine for the Wildcats before Braxton Cook scored in paint for the Wildcats between baskets from Terry to make the score 8-7 Pirates with 4:40 left. Luke Bishops got a basket inside for the Wildcats as Lamon Aldrudge hit two free throws for Gosnell to make it 10-9. Cook canned a three-pointer for Trumann as Bishop added one of two free throws for the Wildcats to make the score 13-10 Wildcats. Grant Glintborg added a basket late for Gosnell making it 13-12 Trumann after one quarter.

Drake Harlow canned a three-pointer and added a basket in the paint for Trumann’s first points of the second quarter pushing their lead to 18-12. Chase Perkins converted an old-fashioned three-point play for Gosnell as Cook hit a jumper in the lane for Trumann making it 20-15 Wildcats with 4:15 left. Terry scored inside for Gosnell, Bishop scored off the fast break for Trumann before Perkins hit one of two free throws for the Pirates to make it 22-18 Wildcats. The Wildcats’ Elrod and Harlow scored back to back baskets in the paint as Johnny Bell hit one of two free throw to push Trumann’s lead to 27-18. Jazten Williams scored inside for Gosnell as Elrod scored in the paint for the Wildcats making the halftime score 29-20 Trumann.

Anderson cut the lead to 29-25 with a jumper and three-pointer early in the third quarter for Gosnell before Harlow scored inside for the Wildcats making it 31-25. Back to back baskets from Anderson cut the lead to 31-29 before Aldrudge hit one of two free throws and threw down a one-handed slam dunk to give the Pirates a 32-31 lead. Anderson converted a conventional three-point play with 16 seconds left to give Gosnell a 35-31 lead after three quarters of play.

Lamon Aldrudge readies to slam one home during the Pirates’ game with Trumann in the Gerald Jennings Tournament.Cosmo Cossey photos

The fourth quarter as a scoring frenzy as Jai-Jacobs Ford canned a three-ball and Williams scored inside before Elrod hit one of two free throws for Trumann making it 40-32 Gosnell. Anderson canned a three-ball for the Pirates, Harlow hit two free throws for Trumann as Glintborg hit one of two free throws for Gosnell and Anderson got a steal and layup for the Pirates making it 46-34 Gosnell with 4:50 left. Bishop hit triple twine for the Wildcats only to see Gosnell get back to back baskets from Ford and Terry to make it 50-37 Pirates. Elrod drilled a three-ball for the Wildcats, Terry scored inside for Gosnell, Harlow hit two free throws for Trumann as Williams scored in the paint for the Pirates to make the score 54-42 Gosnell. Anderson hit one of two free throws and Glintborg got a steal and layup as the Pirates pushed their lead to 57-42 before Elrod scored in the paint for Trumann to make it 57-44 Gosnell. Anderson hit two free throws for the Pirates as Bishop canned a three-ball for Trumann to make the final score 59-47 Gosnell.

“We played hard and finally started executing and scoring some points. Our defense stepped up and held them to two points in the third quarter and our defense really stepped up in the second half. I just encouraged the boys to come and do what they know in the second and they responded well,” Gosnell head coach Deantra Scott said after the game.

Anderson led Gosnell with 22 point as Terry finished with 12 points for the Pirates.

Trumann’s Braxton Cook goes high to block the shot of Gosnell’s Lamon Aldrudge during high school basketball action in Marked Tree.Cosmo Cossey photos

“It’s better than it has been the last few games. I thought we played a good first half and executed the game plan to almost perfection and in the second half they (Gosnell) took us out of our game and we could never find it again. Elrod makes our team go but we have to get everything meshing to give him support and make our offense flow. Once we get the vision we have in mind worked out, we should be pretty good,” head coach Aaron Ballew said.

Elrod led three Trumann players in double figures with 15 point as Harlow added 13 points and Bishop finished with 11 points for the Wildcats.