AMERICUS – Two games in Wednesday night’s play at the Dwight Harris Boys Club Basketball Summer League stood in stark contrast to each other. Game 1 of the night featured the 8u Warriors overwhelming and manhandling the 8u Cavaliers 29-2. Game 2 was a bit more competitive as the 11u Jazz edged out the 11u Cavaliers 32-29. Both games were played Wednesday night, June 27, at Ninth Grade Academy.

In the 8u game, Jarmaine Curry led the Warriors with 14 points as they took control early and never looked back on their way to the 29-2 win over the 8u Cavaliers. “They (8u Warriors) played hard. We preach about playing hard,” Warriors coach Dometrius Monts Sr. said. “They came out and played good defense. We were able to get some layups. We were able to win pretty easily today.”

The Warriors went on an 11-0 run to start the game. Both teams played extremely hard, forcing turnovers by each other. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, they just weren’t able to put the ball in the basket until the second half when Ayden Robinson scored their only basket of the game.

In addition to Curry’s 14 points to lead all scorers, Brayden Evans scored six points. Dometrius Monts Jr. and Camryn Watts each scored three and Tyran Smith scored two points.

In the 11u game between the Cavaliers and the Jazz, it was close all the way. The Jazz got off to a 4-2 lead to start the game. However, Brenden Covin hit a three-pointer and then scored on a layup to put the Cavaliers up 7-4. For the rest of the first half, it was a close battle, with the Jazz leading 13-11 at the half.

Fireworks began the first half as both teams got hot from beyond the arc. Jaden Tatum hit a three-pointer to give the Cavaliers a 14-13 lead. Covery Hill responded with a three-pointer to put the Jazz back up 16-14. However, Tatum knocked down another three-pointer to put the Cavaliers ahead 17-16. The Jazz responded by going on a 9-2 run to take a 25-19 lead.

A few minutes later, Tatum scored to get the Cavaliers to within four points at 28-24. As the game was winding down, the Warriors had a 32-29 lead. The Cavaliers had the ball with seconds left to tie the game. However, Jaden Tatum’s desperation three-pointer at the buzzer fell short and the Jazz came away with a hard-fought 32-29 victory.

Covery Hill led the victorious Jazz with 11 points. Three of those points came off a three-pointer. Jaden Terry scored nine points. Kendrick Burton and Keaston Taylor each scored four points, and both Caimen Williams and Quay’shaun Tatum each scored two points.

For the Cavaliers, they had two players in double-figures. Jaden Tatum led all scorers with 12 points. Six of those points came off of two three-pointer. Brenden Covin scored 11 points. He also hit two three-pointers. William “Jase” Peterson also chipped in six points for the Cavaliers.