Clear Creek Middle School began its basketball season last week with games against Fannin County and Pickens.
The seventh-grade Bobcats were victorious in both games and downed Fannin, 46-27, and Pickens, 56-26. The eighth graders defeated Fannin, 48-34, but fell to Pickens, 55-10.
The Lady Cat seventh graders topped Fannin, 32-23, and lost to Pickens, 33-23. The eighth graders were defeated in both of their games by one point. Fannin came away with a 45-44 win while Pickens notched a 48-47 victory.
Bobcats
Talyn Curtis led the seventh grade with 22 points against Fannin. While the Rebels grabbed a 23-22 lead at the half, the Cats outscored Fannin 12-3 in the third and secured the win in the fourth.
Jackson McVey added six points for CCMS, Cooper Farmer had five and Riley Davis scored four.
Against Pickens, the Bobcats led from wire to wire and their lead grew with each passing quarter. CCMS was up 29-8 at the half and extended its lead to 30 points by game’s end.
Twelve Bobcats scored on the day and McVey led the way with 13 points. Curtis finished with 10.
Eighth-grade Cats Kohan Davis and Jacob Becerra both scored 11 points against Fannin. Ethan McCollum added nine. CCMS led 12-4 after a quarter and FCMS tied the score at 17-all by the half.
The Cats made 14-of-19 free throws in the final two quarters to overtake Fannin and cruise to a 14-point win.
Pickens made eight three-pointers against CCMS and took control of the game from the start. The Cats trailed 32-8 at the half, and Pickens extended its lead by game’s end.
Becerra scored four points and McCollum, Ryder Wofford and John Ponders netted two points apiece.
Lady Cats
The seventh-grade Cats opened a 15-10 halftime lead versus Fannin and pushed to six points entering the fourth where they outscored Fannin, 7-4.
Bree Burnette tallied eight points, Aliza Chastain had seven and Grace Bramlett scored five for CCMS.
Versus Pickens, Clear Creek struggled with turnovers and were unable to convert layups and free throws, according to coach Jessica Hensley, who also praised the tenacity of Madison Bradshaw in the 10-point defeat.
The eighth graders committed 20 first-half turnovers and fell behind 27-13 at the break against Fannin. Clear Creek still trailed 39-23 entering the fourth when its offense came alive and scored 21 points.
CCMS drew within in a point late in the fourth but could not convert a pair of free throws or a layup, and Fannin escaped with a one-point win.
Sarah Mulkey scored 17 for CCMS. Lucy Ray had nine while Katelynn Carder and Marley Boatright each scored six.
Mulkey also tallied 17 against Pickens.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Hensley said. “They fought hard, executed and gave 100 percent the entire game.”
Hensley noted that the Pickens game came down to turnovers, and CCMS committed 12. The Cats also ran into foul trouble by the fourth, and Pickens was able to claim a close victory.
“We are getting better every day,” Hensley said. “I love these girls and am honored to be coaching them.”