ORLANDO, FL — The North Mississippi Wildcats picked up a 57-48 win over Orange Park (Florida) on Tuesday and a 67-52 win over Academic Basketball (Connecticut) on Wednesday to with a 2-1 record in Pool Play.
North MS 57 Orange Park 48
The Cats dropped a disappointing 65-55 loss to RBS 17 (Illinois) to open up Pool play, but rebounded nicely in a 57-48 win over Orange County at the Josten’s Center at Disney’s Wide World of Sports on Tuesday.
Josh Green (Pontotoc) scored 14 points while Brandon Blake (Oxford) added 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the win. Andrew Bell (Pontotoc) and Zach Carnell (Ingomar) added 7 points each, Reed Clayton (Tupelo) 6, Griffin McCormick (Pontotoc) 5, Charlie Easley (Calhoun City) and Trevor Boren (Saltillo) scored 2 each while Zavion Adams (Hickory Flat) added one in the win.
North MS 67 Academic Basketball 52
The Wildcats were faced with a must-win situation against Academic Basketball at Foundation Academy on Wednesday while a win by 15 points or better would boost their chances of making the National Championship Tournament.
The Cats took care of business hitting the 15-point margin of victory right on the mark.
Bell led the way with 18 points, Boren 10, Carnell 9, Clayton 7, Blake 6, Green 6, Austin Harrelson (Tupelo) 4, Caleb VanTassell (Hickory Flat) 4, and Adams added 3 in a win that saw their opponents hit with five technical fouls along with a player and coach ejection.
RBS 17 defeated Orange Park to claim the Pool Championship and the Wildcats finished in second place advancing to the double-elimination National Championship Tournament which starts Thursday with times and location to be announced later today.
Monday
North MS 14 13 9 19 55
RBS 17 14 13 12 26 65
NMS — Josh Green 11, Caleb VanTassell 10, Brandon Blake 10, Griffin McCormick 8, Zach Carnell 7, Andrew Bell 3, Charlie Easley 2, Trevor Boren 2, Zavion Adams 2.
RBS — Kevin Schlitter 14, Dennis Hodges 12, Tyler Les 12, Ryan Walker 10.
Tuesday
North MS 15 12 19 11 57
Orange Park 13 6 20 9 48
NMS — Josh Green 14, Brandon Blake 13, Andrew Bell 7, Zach Carnell 7, Reed Clayton 6, Griffin McCormick 5, Charlie Easley 2, Trevor Boren 2, Zavion Adams 1.
OP — Matt Clark 17, George Antonio 13.
Wednesday
North MS 14 19 12 25 67
ABC 3 11 21 27 52
North MS — Andrew Bell 18, Trevor Boren 10, Zach Carnell 9, Reed Clayton 7, Brandon Blake 6, Josh Green 6, Austin Harrelson (Tupelo) 4, Caleb VanTassell 4, and Zavion Adams 3.
ABC — Laurent Firlotte 22, Takari Smalls 10.
