By By Lindsey Sherrill
Staff Writer
Escambia Academy began the 2002-2003 basketball season Tuesday as the boys, girls, and JV teams traveled to Sparta Academy for the season opener.
The varsity girls season did not get off to the best start as they lost 42-39. However, the game did show promise for the rest of the year as several of the younger players added to the scoring.
The Lady Cougars put up twelve points in the first quarter, nine in the second, twelve in the third, and only six in the fourth. Leading the team was Meagan Jackson, a sophomore, with twenty points and two rebounds. The team's only senior, Jessica Gibbs, followed with eight points and eleven rebounds. Other scorers were Mandi Norton with five points and thirteen rebounds, Lori Bonds with four points and eight rebounds, and Rayleen Miller with two points and two rebounds.
The Cougar varsity boys fared better than the Lady Cougars as they defeated Sparta 71-50. The team put up twenty-one points in the first quarter, fourteen in the second, thirteen in the third, and twenty-three in the fourth. The game saw three team members scoring in the double digits, as well as good performances by the team's five seniors. Senior Jace Beasley led the team as he put up fifteen points and two rebounds. He was followed by Robert Hardy with thirteen points and thirteen rebounds, David Daniel with ten points and four rebounds, Bradford Price with nine points and five rebounds, Cole Norton with eight points and seven rebounds, Zach Smith with five points and two rebounds, Billy McCann with four points and two rebounds, Chris Moore with three points and three rebound, Steven Shirley with three points and three rebounds, and Cody White with one point and two rebounds. Beasley, Price, and Moore also each had four steals.
The Cougar JV, girls, and boys teams will take on Faith Academy in Mobile Tuesday, Nov. 26 with action beginning at 4:00 p.m.