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By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

Jemison High School got its first varsity boys’ basketball win of the season 66-34 over Verbena High School on Nov. 18. Tucker Bean went 10-for-15 shooting and poured in 23 points to lead the Panthers. Bean grabbed nine rebounds and added two steals and two assists to his totals.

Jemison got off to a fast start with Jaxon Padlo, Luke Gann and Santana Adams all knocking down 3-pointers to aid a 9-0 run to start the game. Adams and Bean each put in another 3-pointer in the first quarter to help the Panthers to a 15-5 lead after the first quarter.

Jemison knocked down eight 3-pointers against Verbena, and all of Adams’ nine points came on 3-point field goals.

The Panthers were coming off an 86-56 loss to Holy Family Catholic Academy where the Panthers led at one point by double digits. Jemison coach Christian Goodwin said he was not worried about his team’s enthusiasm on Nov. 18.

“I think it all started with our guys just being hungry to get back on the court,” Goodwin said. “We had a good moment in the locker room after that game, and I thought our leadership is really starting to show.”

Jemison erupted for a 26-point second quarter and was led by Gann who poured in six of his 18 points in the frame. Gann added six rebounds.

Goodwin said his players fed off of the atmosphere that was created in the gymnasium, and Jemison led 41-19 at halftime.

“We just fed off the energy and hit some shots early that got us going,” Goodwin said. “That was all she wrote after that big run in the second quarter, and we just maintained things in the second half.”

Jemison held Verbena to just 15 points in the second half. Tucker Bradford had five points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals.

“To see the kind of atmosphere we had on Friday night was special,” Goodwin said. “In my eyes, that is something that is starting to show what we are building here, and I know our guys are excited about it.”

Jemison (1-3) travels to Westminster School at Oak Mountain on Nov. 21 for its next game at 6:30 p.m. Verbena (0-3) completed its November slate of games and will face off against Holtville on the road on Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. in its next matchup.