Malone Bites Graceville

By Clint Cox

It was a cat fight on Monday night in Graceville and the Malone Tigers pulled away from Graceville Tigers for an 87-65 win in boy’s varsity basketball action. The game featured two of the more prolific scorers in the county and they didn’t disappoint the fans. Graceville’s Cameron Dozier led all scorers with 33 points while T.J. Smith led Malone with 26 points.

Malone got balanced scoring in the first quarter as 7 different players scored to help Malone take a 22-12 lead. Graceville battled back in the second quarter as Dozier began to heat up. Graceville cut the Malone lead to 3 points on a couple of free throws by Dozier. But Smith fired right back with 5 straight points to push Malone’s lead back to 8 points. Dozier again got Graceville back, this time within 2, as he hit a 3 pointer to make it a 33-31 game with 15 seconds left in the half. But with 3 seconds remaining Chai Baker was sent to the free throw line for Malone. He missed the free throw but hustled to the basket and tipped in the ball to give Malone a 35-31 halftime lead.

In the second half Graceville hung close in the early stages. With five minutes left in the third quarter Graceville’s Craig Myrick hit a 3 pointer and then another basket to keep Graceville within 3 points of Malone. But Smith nailed a 3 pointer moments later as Malone began to pull away with a 46-38 lead. Malone went on to outscore Graceville in the third quarter 25-16 and take a 60-47 lead into the final quarter. Malone poured it on that last quarter as they quickly expanded their lead. Ladarius McElroy came up with a steal and layup with five minutes remaining in the game to give Malone a 77-54 lead.

From there Malone went on to post the 22 point victory. Malone placed three other players in double figures, led by McElroy with 20 points. Jayminson Blount added 15 and Jean Little chipped in 10. Graceville had one other player in double figures as Leander Ford hit 12 points in the contest.

Leading up to their matchup with Graceville Malone had picked up two wins last week, beating Munroe 67-49 last Tuesday. Blount led the way with 15 points while McElroy and Marcus Leonard added 10 points each. Last Friday night Malone traveled to Tallahassee and got a 62-50 win over John Paul II Catholic. Smith led the Tigers with 27 points and McElroy followed with 11.

Last Thursday night the Graceville squad fell to Chipley 68-62. Dozier blistered the nets for 39 points but it was not enough. Graceville went to Bonifay Tuesday night and returns home Friday for a game with rival Cottondale. Malone traveled to Dothan on Tuesday night to take on Northview and then will host Aucilla on Thursday night. Results of the Tuesday night games were not available at press time.

In Junior Varsity action on Monday night Graceville posted a 61-55 win over Malone. Marquis White led Graceville with 22 points while Chris Murff led Malone with 26 points.