By Stephen Dawkins

VERBENA — Jemison on Dec. 18 defeated Fayetteville, 60-56, in a game that probably shouldn’t have been as close.
Fayetteville broke Jemison’s press and forced the Panthers (4-3) into mistakes, but Jemison did itself no favors, turning the ball over 23 times and making only five of 11 free throw attempts in the second half.
The game was the second of the first day of Verbena’s Christmas Classic boys basketball tournament. The Panthers were also scheduled to play Westminster at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 19 and Montgomery-Catholic at 5:30 p.m. Monday.
Jemison held a 6-point lead at halftime, but Fayetteville led, 43-38, after three periods.
Jemison took the lead back with 3:28 remaining when Cornelius Strong drove through the defense and then dumped the basketball off to Jeremiah Gates.
Trey Bryant stole the ball on the ensuing Fayetteville possession and laid it in for a 3-point lead, but Fayetteville (2-9) tied the game with Jeremy Melton’s 3-pointer with 46 seconds left to play.
Jemison got two free throws by both Strong and Bryant and a crucial defensive rebound by Scottie Hall to preserve the win.
Bryant scored a game-high 24 points for Jemison to go along with eight steals, six rebounds and four assists.
Hall had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Cameron Martin and Morrell McKinney led Fayetteville with 12 points each.
Jemison played much better in a 73-41 win over Thorsby on Dec. 15.
The Panthers held Thorsby without a field goal for the first five minutes of the game—before Andrew Farris’ 3-pointer fell through the net, the hosts had a 14-1 lead—and played what might have been their best game of the season.
“The difference tonight was that we maintained,” first-year Jemison coach Stacy McGehee said about his team’s tendency to start fast but then fade.
The Panthers set the tone early, forcing Thorsby (2-4) into long jump shots—which were too often missed—dominating the boards both offensively and defensively, and sharing the ball on offense (Jemison had 19 assists as a team).
Jemison effectively mixed full-court and half-court pressure defenses, and the Rebels never looked comfortable.
“We’re getting them to believe in themselves and be aggressive,” McGehee said.
Thorsby didn’t help itself, as the Rebels missed 16 of their 26 free throw attempts.
Jemison led 18-5 after one period, 39-19 at halftime and 65-32 after the third. The Panthers made four 3-pointers in the quarter, including two by Zak Kaylor.
Jemison’s Scottie Hall posted his sixth double-double in as many games, scoring a team-high 17 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.
Trey Bryant scored 15 points, and Cornelius Strong (11 points) and Kaylor (10) also scored in double figures.
Aaron Thornton led Thorsby with nine points.