Hixson's T.T. Staten keeps the ball from Boyd Buchanan's Maddie Wright Tuesday at the city high school basketball jamboree at GPS.
Hixson's Justice Alameda shoots over Boyd Buchanan's Riley Walker Tuesday at the city high school basketball jamboree at GPS.Considering GPS coach Jennifer Williams' team won twice Tuesday, she may consider revitalizing the city basketball jamboree as a win-win-win situation.
Williams was the driving force in bringing back the jamboree, which had disappeared for a few years. GPS hosted the two-day event with six eight-minute periods being played Monday and five played Tuesday.
The Bruisers beat Howard 19-8 to start things Tuesday and later defeated Tyner 24-8. Signal Mountain's girls also played twice Monday. Williams hopes to continue growing the event so that more teams will become involved.
"It's just a good time to work the jitters out," Williams said. "We saw what we need to work on. We were not rebounding well and defensive position we were a little out, but that will come in time."
The Bruisers scored the first 12 points of the night. Brooke McCurdy was their scoring leader in the first period with 13 points, including three 3-point goals. Akia Harris had 11 points against Tyner and Gabria Hubbard added seven.
Deyshala Rice scored all of Howard's points. LaAundra Melton led Tyner with four points.
• Boyd-Buchanan girls 13, Hixson 6: The Lady Buccaneers scored the first five points and never trailed.
Marissa McCalla topped Boyd-Buchanan with six points. Jameliah Dortch scored three for Hixson, which got no closer than 6-4.
• Tyner 21, McCallie 15: Tyner took the lead for good at 15-14 in the final period when Kevin Cameron made both ends of a one-and-one with 1:38 to go. He led the Rams with eight points in a period that included 28 free throws.
"There were a lot of touch fouls," Tyner coach Gerald Harris said. "I was pleased with our intensity more than anything else. I'm having to replace eight seniors. The defense is always ahead of the offense this time of year. We've got a long way to go."
The competition was the first at McCallie for coach John Shulman, who guided the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's men's program for nine seasons -- the last in 2012-13.
"It felt good," Shulman said. "It was fun. We've got some great kids to work with. We've got a bunch of young guys. It was a great experience."
Adrian Thomas with four points led seven Blue Tornado players that scored. Shulman said 15 athletes who will be varsity of junior-varsity players are still involved with McCallie's Division II-AA football state-playoff team.
• Hixson boys 8, Boyd-Buchanan 4: The Wildcats trailed 4-2 before Justice Alameda and Quay King made 3-point field goals in the final 2:15.
Parris Clarke was the only one to score for the Bucs. With Hixson still playing in the Class 4A football playoffs and Boyd-Buchanan's season having just ended with a Class 2A playoff loss Friday, neither team has its football players available.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him at twitter.com/KelleySmiddie.