Grand Ridge and Cottondale split in boys action
By: Shelia Mader
The Grand Ridge Indians hit the road last week, taking their second game of the young season to Cottondale to help tip off the Hornets’ middle school boys basketball schedule. The night ended in a split, with Grand Ridge’s ‘A’ team pulling off a solid 41–31 win, while Cottondale’s ‘B’ team battled back to take the nightcap, 29–26.
Indians Claim the ‘A’ Game
The Indians entered Thursday’s matchup coming off back-to-back action and were determined to even their early record. From the opening tip, Grand Ridge set the tone, jumping out to an 11–5 first-quarter lead behind A.J. Johnson’s hot hand, as he dropped in six quick points.
Cottondale clawed back in the second quarter, outscoring the Indians 12–9, thanks in large part to the aggressive play of Nytavian Butler, who tallied nine points in the frame. Still, Grand Ridge held on to a narrow 20–17 advantage heading into halftime.
After the break, the Indians tightened up defensively and controlled the third quarter 12–6, with Johnson again sparking the offense. The Hornets rallied late, but Grand Ridge kept its composure to edge Cottondale 9–8 in the final stretch and seal the win.
Butler paced Cottondale with an impressive 18 points, followed by T.J. Jackson with 12. For Grand Ridge, Micah Williams led all scorers with 20 points, while Johnson finished close behind with 12.
Hornets Battle Back in the ‘B’ Game
Cottondale wasn’t about to leave empty-handed. In the second game of the night, the Hornets’ ‘B’ team came out with energy and grit, determined to avoid a sweep, and they did just that with a hard-fought 29–26 victory.
The Hornets started strong, racing to a 13–5 first-quarter lead. Grand Ridge regrouped in the second, outscoring Cottondale 8–6 to trim the deficit to 19–13 at the half. Emerson Young provided a steady presence for the Indians with four points before the break, while Zayden Lovett powered the Hornets with 13 points in the first half alone.
Grand Ridge made a push after halftime, posting nine points to Cottondale’s five, cutting the game down to a single possession. But the Hornets hung tough in the fourth, matching baskets and securing the three-point win.
Lovett finished his standout performance with 20 points to lead all scorers. For Grand Ridge, Young led the way with eight points, followed by Mason Mestas with seven and Kaiden Dudley with six.
Both squads showed plenty of promise, hustle, and heart as the season gets rolling. With more games on the horizon this week, expect both the Indians and Hornets to keep building momentum and chasing the next win.
