(Photo: Jackson High School’s Fieldhouse)
By, Gabriel Schray | JTV Sports | December 11th, 2018
Jackson, Michigan– Jackson High’s Boys Varsity Basketball team dipped to an even .500 on the season after losing to Ann Arbor Pioneer (57-44) at home on Tuesday night. Following a 7pm tip off, the two teams played hard right from the first whistle. Ann Arbor was coming off of a tough loss to Canton, and was prepared to bounce back.
The Vikes led at the halftime break by a score of 24-23. Jackson was fueled by the electric play of Tyshan Kelley, who scored 7 first half points. He was spurred on by teammate Tyler Hunt’s 6 that he added through the two periods. At one point the Pioneers were struggling, but staged a bit of a comeback egged on by Drew Lowder’s 9 first half points. Lowder gave Pioneer their first lead since the start of the game just moments from the halftime break before Jackson regained the lead and held it into the break.
The score would have been 35-35 going into the 4th quarter of play if Kasean Pryor had not drained two deep 3-pointers in the last 60 seconds of the 3rd period. Pryor and Lowder led the Pioneers on a 16-4 run beginning with those two threes that lasted to the 5:12 mark in the 4th quarter. The Pioneers rode that lead to a 57-44 win on the road.
Ramir Rice fouls Frank Petruv. 29-29 the score with 4:00 left in the 3rd QTR@JTV_Sports @JHSViking @JHSVIKINGS pic.twitter.com/RwsDm09Wei
— Gabriel Schray PXP (@schrayguy) December 12, 2018
Coming into the game Jackson stood at (1-0) on the season. They now (1-1). Ann Arbor Pioneer came into the contest standing at (3-1). They now stand at (4-1) on the season. Their effort was assisted by the great play of
Jackson fielded Tyshan Kelley, Dakota Robertson, Ex’Zire Edwards, Ramir Rice and Micah Cretsinger as their starting five. This was countered by Kasean Pryor, Aidan Wright, Drew Lowder, Alex Cunningham and Mac VanRenterghem for Pioneer.
Kelley and Hunt both added 13 points on the night for Jackson High. JTV’s broadcast crew selected Tayshan Kelley as the Tri County Water Player of the Game. Robertson, Edwards and Cretsinger all added four to the statline for the Vikings. Devin Looper finished with a three pointer as well. Kasean Pryor finished with 14 points contributed to the Pioneers total. Their leading scorer was Drew Lowder.
Most media outlets consider Pioneer and Canton to be amongst the top 25 teams in Michigan at this early stage in the season. Their contest proved to be excellent. Canton prevailed, 65-56. A score that isn’t telling as to how tight that contest truly was. Pioneer went 22-for-54 from the floor in that contest. They also converted at an 8-for-28 clip from 3-point range. Senior guard Kasean Pryor added 13 points- a precursor JTV was watching for during our broadcast of this contest.
The Vikings bested Battle Creek Central 42-37 in their first contest of the season. AA Pioneer is considered one of the better teams in teh state, and has proved as a huge test for Jackson High’s basketball team.
They play again on Friday. The Vikings will travel to Ypsilanti for their next contest. Tip off will be at 7pm and tickets can be purchased at the door.
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