Miller County Basketball Highlights
by Glenda Bailey, sports writer

Miller County gets a free shot

The Miller County Lady Pirates and Pirates have been very busy this past week on the road and at home playing some hard games. In the girls' first game over in Bainbridge last Tuesday evening, it was a heartbreaker as the Lady Pirates fell 64-42 to the Lady Bearcats. Senior Shay Crankfield was the top scorer for Miller County with 18 points. Christy Daniels followed with a total of 10 points, and Telisha Calloway tacked on five points. The Lady Bearcats' top scorer was K. Dawson with 16 points. The Lady Cats were 50% from the free throw line.

In the second game of the night, our Pirates faced the Bearcats in a high flying game. In the first quarter, Miller County led by three points. Will Martin and Zenario Shuler came out popping three pointers. Top scorers for the Pirates were Juwan Jones with a total of 14 points, Colby Gilbert and Trey Bush each added 13 points while Zenario Shuler added 10 points. Bearcat M. Johnson was the top scorer for Bainbridge. Our boys' win over Bainbridge came to the final score of 59-49.

Then on Friday night, our boys and girls hosted Echols County. It was a great win for both of our teams. In the first game, our Lady Pirates dominated Echols' girls in all four quarters. Top scorers for Miller County were Shay Crankfield with 21 points, Christy Daniels with 12 points, Salina Diamond with 12 points, and Telisha Calloway with six points. Top scorer for the Lady Bearcats was Breanna Highsmith with 11 points. The final score was Lady Pirates, 57, to Echols County Girls' 36.

In the boys' game, Senior Trey Bush came up slamdunking three shots for the Pirates and Colby Gilbert hitting a three pointer from way out whereas Echols' TJ Brown hit a three pointer, and Paul Carter hit two three pointers. In the second quarter, Zenario Shuler hit two three pointers. Will Martin hit two three pointers, and Cosby Salters stepped up at the free throw line, but again Echols answered back with their own Kevin Simpson hitting two pointers. At the end of the second quarter, the Miller County Pirates led by two, 36-34.

As the third quarter got underway, the Pirates scored 23 points and moved away from Echols. Cosby Salters (1), Zenario Shuler (2), and Will Martin (2) hit three pointers. Trey Bush came on with four points widening the score 59-39. In the fourth quarter, Marques Shuler showed what he could do from afar, nailing a three pointer. Again Bush showed his talent of high flying with another dunk. The final score of this game was Miller County Pirates, 74, and Echols County, 49. Top scorers for the Pirates were Zenario Shuler with 17 points, Will Martin and Trey Bush each scored 16 points, followed by Cosby Salters with 12 points, and Colby Gilbert assisted with 8 points. Top scorer for EcholswasTJBrown with 15 points.

In the final game of the week of December 8, our boys and girls traveled over to Blakely, Georgia, to face the Lady Bobcats and Bobcats. In the first game, the Lady Cats dominated our Lady Pirates with the score of 54-23. Early County's Nett Reed scored a total of 26 points, and Marah Wright scored 17 points. In this game, our girls could not get a groove on against the Lady Bobcats.

In the second game, both Early County and Miller County boys played to a packed house. It was a great game from the beginning to the end with good officiating from the referees. In the first quarter, the Bobcats led by six, but at the end of the second quarter, Miller County held the lead, 37-33. By the end of the third quarter, the score was tied 43-43. In the final quarter of the game, the Bobcats moved out in front with a 7 point lead to win the game, 66-59. Early County's Escondarious Yarborough hit four three pointers while Miller County's Will Martin (1), Victor Johnson (1), and Zenario Shuler (2) hit a total of four three pointers for the Pirates. Top scorer for Miller County was Trey Bush with 24 points, followed by Juwan Jones with 14 points, Zenario Shuler with 8 points, Will Martin with 6 points, Colby Gilbert with 4 points, and Victor Johnson with 3 points. Top scorers for Early County were Jemychal Salter with 16 points and Escondarious Yarborough with 14 points.

The Lady Pirates and Pirates will be hosting the next three games at the Pirates' Gymnasium. Here are the following games and times:

December 11-Calhoun Co. game at 6:00 p.m.

December 14-Webster (Girls Only) game time at 5:00 p.m.

December 18-Bainbridge game time at 6:00 p.m.

December 20, 21, and 22 tournament-Lowndes Co. (Boys)

December 28 and 29 tournament Turner Co. (Boys)

Then on January 4, 2008 Basketball games will resume with Miller County traveling to Clinch County with game time beginning at 7:00 p.m.