JA boys hold off late comeback attempt to beat MRA
The Jackson Academy boys’ basketball team held off a fourth quarter comeback attempt to pick up a 45-41 road district win over MRA on Tuesday night.
After having a double-digit lead going into halftime, Jackson Academy allowed MRA to creep back into the game and saw their lead dwindle as low as one point.
Even with the momentum not in their favor late in the game, the Raiders found a way to hold on and secure a gritty district win that will be crucial in the district standings as the season goes along.
“For us in district play it’s just been about finding a way,” Jackson Academy Head Coach Jesse Taylor said. “The groove will eventually come back, you just have to keep plugging away and finding ways to win. There are a lot of ways to win in basketball and to win against such a well-coached team on their home court is a great win.”
A big reason for the win and their success this season is Jackson Academy’s guard play and depth off the bench. The Raiders outscored MRA 11-1 in bench points and are led by phenomenal guards such as senior Caleb Gaitor, junior Marcus Goodloe, and junior DJ Washington.
“If there was a definition of a Raider, it’s Caleb Gaitor with everything he does for our team, in the classroom, and on the court, he just shows up everyday and works,” Taylor said. “It’s a blessing to have guys like him, Marcus Goodloe, DJ Washington, and these guys who all have stepped up, matured, and grown as this season has gone along.”
Junior forward Tyler Lyles, Gaitor, and Washington led the way in the scoring column for Jackson Academy in this one, with Lyles scoring 13 points, Gaitor scoring 12 points, and Washington scoring 9 points.
The Raiders also won the battle on the boards, out rebounding MRA 32-25, and also led MRA in fast break points, which is when Jackson Academy is at their strongest.
Jackson Academy currently sits at 14-4 and may have played the toughest schedule of any team in the state so far. Two of the losses this season for the Raiders have come against top-25 nationally ranked out-of-state teams by 12 points or less, which has prepared them for battles like this in district play.
“We have tried to make our schedule extremely tough because our conference is extremely tough,” Taylor said. “That experience has allowed us to look at the games in our conference and know that we have competed with a certain edge all year, so this edge and this intensity that district play brings is not foreign to us.”
Jackson Academy will be back in action with a road district matchup against St. Joseph on Friday night. As for MRA, the Patriots will be back in action on the road against Hartfield Academy on Friday and then will host Greenville Christian for a non-district game on Saturday.