OVERTIME VICTORY

 CeJay Jones hasn’t played organized basketball since he was in the middle school at Williamsburg. But, the 6-3 junior made his presence known in a big way Saturday night as he led the Yellow Jackets to a 63-59 win over the Owsley County Owls.

Jones scored all 17 points in the third quarter as he led the Jackets to a come-from-behind win. “What can you say about his game,” said Williamsburg Coach Patrick Robison. “This was his fourth varsity basketball game, he has played since the seventh grade. He comes out with a great attitude, he is playing hard, one of few kids that trying in that first half,” said Robinson. “He was fighting for everything.”

Jones had a big night against the Lynn Camp Wildcats where he scored 16 points and pulled down 14 rebounds. “The kid is playing hard, blocking out and rebounding. He is doing a lot of good stuff for us.”

The teams were evenly matched in the first game of the “Wish We Were in Maui Classic” at Whitley County.

Led by Tim Murrell, the Owls eased out to a 13-9 lead before baskets by Daniel Pettit and Cameron Smoak evened the score for the first time. However, Murrell hit four straight free throws to end the quarter with Owsley County on top, 17-13.

The Owls threatened to bust the game open when the scored the first six points of the second quarter. The Owls led 26-16 and even stretched the lead to 13 points (30-17) on a basket by Murrell.

Williamsburg cut the lead down to nine by halftime as Cory Fleenor hit a basket while Fleenor and Jared Barton was two-of-four from the line.

“We played as badly as we possibly could in the first half,” said Robinson. “Nothing was going right and our shots were not falling. But, just because your shots are not falling doesn’t mean you can’t rebound and play defense.”

“That was the difference in the second half, we were able to get some rebounds and loose balls and play a little bit of defense and that carried us,” said Robinson.

Jones got hot in the third quarter and wanted the basketball. He scored from the free throw line (five-of-five), on a rebound basket and had an old fashion three-point play to spark the Yellow Jackets.

Jones scored all 17 points as the Jackets cut a ten-point lead (35-25) down to four (37-33) with four minutes remaining in the quarter. Jones got his team within three before Jeremy Evans hit a basketball to close out the period with the Owls on top, 43-38.

Williamsburg opened the final eight minutes with 10 of the first 12 points and took a 48-54 lead when Barton knocked down a three-pointer.

Williamsburg had control of the lead but it was the Owls who came back to force the overtime on a basket by Travis Murrell.

Jones, who had suffered an ankle injury late in the quarter, had a chance to win the game with four seconds left on the clock. But, he missed the front end of a bonus and the game went into overtime.

The Owls took a quick lead and looked to be in command before Barton drilled another trey that sent the Yellow Jackets ahead, 57-56. Jones followed with a basket as Williamsburg had the three-point cushion.

Tim Murrell came back to tie the game, 59-59 with a basket and free throw, but Steven Taylor hit a close range jumper and the Jackets hit four of four free throws in the final eight seconds to get the win.

Jellico wins

Jesse Chambers scored a game-high 21 points and Darius Marlow added 20 points as the Jellico Blue Devils held off the Jackets, 71-66 at Jellico, Friday night.

Jellico led from the start to the finish and owned a 55-41 lead going into the final quarter. Williamsburg rallied and pulled within three late in the game, but was unable to overtake the Blue Devils.

Derrick Lovett led the Jackets with 16 points while Jones tossed in 14 points. Fleenor added 10 for the Yellow Jackets.

Tigers Thursday night

The Yellow Jackets were scheduled to play the Barbourville Tigers Thursday night in a home game. They will play in the Hoopin’ It Up Classic at North Laurel Saturday. Williamsburg will play North Laurel at 8:15.

Should the Yellow Jackets win over North Laurel they will play Southwestern Pulaski County Sunday at 8:15 at North Laurel High School. If they lose they will play the loser of the Whitley County-Anderson County game, Monday at 4:45 p.m.

Williamsburg 63, Owsley Co. 59

Owsley Co.    17  13  13  9     7- 59

Williamsburg 13    8  17 14  11- 63

  Williamsburg (63) – Taylor 4, Lovett 5, Jones 23, Fleenor 6, Pettit 4, Payne 6, Barton 11, Smoak 2.

  Owsley Co. (59) – Evans 19, Johnson 2, Peters 3, Williams 6, Tim Murrell 23, Travis Murrell 2.

Jellico 71, Williamsburg 66

Williamsburg  14  10  17  25- 66

Jellico       19  13  23  16- 71

   Williamsburg (66) – Taylor 10, Fleenor 4, Barton 9, Lovett 16, Pettit 4, Payne 9, Jones 14, Bowling 2.

   Jellico (71) – Marlow 20, Thompson 2, Smiddy 9, Ayers 4, Chambers 21, England 2, Ridenour 12.