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By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal
Friday, Dec. 4 basketball action results were a mixed bag for Calhoun varsity boys and varsity girls basketball.
The varsity boys, under new head basketball coach Ronald Smith, played another close contest, but could not hold off New Brockton at the end to lose 65-74 and go 0-8 on the season.
The varsity girls did not play their best game, but handled New Brockton easily to win 53-25 and improve to 6-2 on the season.
The Calhoun Tigers trailed 13-19 at the end of the first quarter, 30-36 at the half and 46-51 at the end of the third quarter. But the iron was unkind to Calhoun too many times down the stretch as New Brockton pulled away for the 74-65 victory.
“We made too many mental mistakes,” said Smith. “We play close, we play hard and we give up to easily,” Smith said. “We’ve just got to fight and fight through it.”
Demarco Jiles, who quarterbacked Calhoun during football season, led the Tigers on the hardwood Friday night with 21 points. He was followed by Darrell Haygood with 17 points.
Smith, 57, may be in his first year as head basketball coach, but is a familiar face at Calhoun. He has been with the school since 1997 as an assistant coach to former varsity head basketball coach Jim Hunter, coached the basketball B team and even served as head football coach for a while.
He said he believes in hard work, discipline and integrity. He said he believes young people should be students first and then athletes.
“If I can do anything, I would hope that I teach young boys how to be men,” Smith said.
He said this year’s team is searching for leadership and identity, but LeDarious Maull has stepped up to show commitment and leadership and he is looking forward to seniors stepping up.
Smith said, “I feel confident that we’re going to move in a positive direction and things are going to get better.”
Smith got his undergraduate degree at Jackson State in public administration and his masters at Alabama State in secondary education. He has two children and three grandchildren.
The Calhoun Lady Tigers had an easy time of it with New Brockton, but varsity girls head basketball coach Eddie Howard said his girls had “too many turnovers.” And he said, “We’re not controlling the tempo game.”
But with a 28 point victory, Howard said, “All in all it was a good game. But we still have a lot of work to do.”
He said his team has no super stars. “You know we believe in five is one, one is five,” he said.
Toni Young led the Lady Tigers with 17 points, followed by teammate Jamiya Smith with 15.