Trumann Wildcats defeat Marked Tree Indians 91-69

Senior guard Richie Tharp puts up a lay-up during the Nov. 24 game against the Marked Tree Indians. Tharp led the Wildcats with 30 points. (Miranda Remaklus / Democrat Tribune photo)

Senior guard Richie Tharp led the Trumann Wildcats with 30 points in their defeat of the Marked Tree Indians on Nov. 24, 91-69.

Trumann Coach Skip Dulaney was pleased with the Wildcats performance in their first game.

"I am very pleased," Dulaney said. "I couldn't ask for more. We shot well. Made good shots and our seniors showed good leadership on the floor."

While there offense was going well, Dulaney thought the defensive aspects of the game were lacking.

"We have got to get better at defense and rebounding," Dulaney said. "We will face much bigger teams and we have got to get better at re-bounding the ball."

Marked Tree Coach Barbara Wilburn-Covington said it was as if her team had never seen a basketball at times.

"But it was there first game, so they have some kinks they needed to get worked out," she said. "But they hustled the whole game and they never quit. That's a good thing."

While Tharp had 30 points for the Wildcats, Jarrett Prince and Steven Williams each had 13 points and Michael Criss and Dylan Dulaney each had nine points.

The Indians top scorer was Thadious Moore who had 18 points. Jarvis Smith had 13 points and Jagger McCrary had 10 points.

Marked Tree Junior High's Juan Davey puts up a shot on Trumann in junior high boys' action on Nov. 24. Davey had seven points for the Junior Indians in their win over the Trumann Wildkittens, 45-35. (Miranda Remaklus / Democrat Tribune photo)

In junior high boys' action, the Junior Indians beat the Wildkittens 45 to 35.

Allen Buchanan led Marked Tree with 25 points. Darrius Ivy has 18 points and Juan Davey had seven points.

For Trumann, Nathan Maxwell led the team with 10 points. Kaleb Capps had seven points and Matt Holt had six points.

Covington said that while the boys didn't play their normal style, a win is a win.

"They didn't play our style of basketball," she said. "I think they thought they would just waltz in here and win. We missed opportunities to box out. But we won and that's what counts."