The Apalachee High School boys basketball has already matched its win total from a season ago.
The Wildcats (1-0) held off visiting East Jackson 61-51 Tuesday night as they ushered in the 2011-2012 season. A 13-point effort from junior Ronald Pettis helped lead the way.
For coach Kevin Morris, the win showed how his team has advanced since a season ago.
“We have grown from last year,” the coach said. “A year ago, who knows how this game would have turned out. East Jackson always plays hard and plays full court pressure. They make it an ugly game with their full court press. That’s what people are going to try and do to us because of our size.”
AHS outscored East Jackson 16-5 in the third quarter to take a 50-41 lead. The Wildcats had trailed by two points at halftime.
Even with 6-9 Cameron Blakely fouling out with 4:14 to play, AHS managed to stay a couple steps in front of the Eagles. Back-to-back baskets by Rakim Peters closed out the win.
It was a balanced effort by the Wildcats in the season opener. Pettis, who suffered a broken nose in practice Monday, also had rebounds, four of which were on the offensive end of the floor. Pettis is scheduled to have surgery this week but coaches hoped he did not miss much action.
Peters finished with nine points, eight rebounds and four assists while Blakely had 12 points, six rebounds and five blocks. Jamair Fuller scored six points and had seven rebounds.
“Jamari has done a great job running the floor,” Morris said. “He did a good job during our run in the third quarter and had a couple of easy baskets.”
The coach also praised the opening-game effort of junior Qua Cleveland.
“He did a good job of not turning the basketball over on the press,” Morris said. “They pressed up the whole game and Qua handled it well.”
Quality minutes by Peters and Jonah German also were key in the victory, Morris said after the game.
AHS led by a point (18-17) after the first quarter while East Jackson moved in front by a basket at halftime. The third quarter was the difference for the Wildcats.
Morris will take his team to Loganville for an 8:30 p.m. matchup Friday.
“We will need to beat their pressure and take advantage of the break when we have it,” the coach said. “We have to pull it back when we don’t have the numbers. We’ll sit down and watch the tape from tonight and go over some things. We’re getting there.”
The Wildcats also host Hebron Christian Saturday at 2:30 p.m. This game was moved up since the JV games will not be played.
