The Jackson County Panthers continue to try to break the slide they’ve been in since December 30. The hopes of breaking the run of bad luck didn’t come true last week, as the streak extended to five losses as the Panthers fell first to Stephens County, then to Franklin and Oconee Counties.
The next chance for the Panthers will come on Friday, as Jackson County travels to Covington to face the Eastside Eagles.
The Eagles have been the winners in the last two meetings of the two teams, first in December of 2004, and again in December of 2005.
Tip-off on Friday is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
On January 9, the Panthers traveled to Stephens County to face the Indians. Jackson County gave Stephens a run for the win, but in the end, it was the Indians coming away with a 65-50 victory.
Joseph Smith led the Panthers in scoring against the Indians with 30 points. Smith also went 19 of 21 from the free throw line on the night. Nick Oney scored 13 points, while Jonathan Baxter had 13 rebounds on the night.
Next up for the Panthers was a Tuesday night trip to Franklin County, where Jackson County hoped to turn things around with a contest against the Lions.
But the Lions, with a 13-3 overall record, entered the game undefeated in the region.
They left that way as well, as they pulled off a big 68-32 win over the Panthers.
Will Wolter led the Panthers in scoring with nine points, while Joseph Smith scored 8 points and Nick Oney scored six.
Things went better for the Panthers on Friday night, as they hosted the Warriors of Oconee County. Things looked good for Jackson County, as they led a good portion of the first half of the game. But they found themselves in a hole in the third quarter, and began to fight back. The Panthers were down by nine points with four minutes left in the game, but were unable to close the gap, as Oconee County won 45-31.
Smith led in scoring with 11 points. Juice Harrison, who is playing with a brace on his torn ACL, scored eight points. Harrison will have surgery for the injury at the end of the month.
Oney scored six points against the Warriors.
The Panthers were scheduled to host Hart County Tuesday night. Results of that game were unavailable at press time.
