JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On January 23rd, the Andrew Jackson Tigers (16-2) took on the Bishop Snyder Cardinals (8-11) in an exhilarating home conference game. Both teams were coming off losses that were greater than 20 points. However, the Tigers had a very determined junior guard, Jackie Simmons, to make sure his team did not lose what would be their third game of the season.
The Tigers set the pace of the game early with the ball in the hands of their quick point guard, Kevin Odom. The score after period one was 16-7, the Tigers in the lead. Simmons led all scorers with 6 points. Junior guard Austin Lewis (Cardinals) led his team with 4 points after one.
Moving into the second quarter, the Cardinals showed signs of making a comeback as they got within 3 of the Tigers. But Logan West and Simmons made sure that they extended the lead right back up to as high as 7. They both combined for 9 points in the second quarter alone, with Simmons knocking down two 3’s. The Tigers went into the locker room with a lead of 27-20. Simmons was the high scoring man with 12 points but Gyasi Powell (Cardinals) was close behind him with 8 points of his own.
The Cardinals began to give the Tigers a run for their money with Powell and Jalen Gilmore combining for 10 of the 13 points scored by the Cardinals in the third quarter. But the Tigers did manage to put up 11 points for the quarter. James Morrow (Tigers) contributed with a team high 4 points that quarter. The score after three 38-33 with the Tigers in the lead.
The fourth quarter saw Snyder win it 13-8. Trent Walker (Cardinals) had 5 points including a three that tied the game at 44 just under two minutes left in regulation. But just under a minute to play, Simmons put the Tigers up 2 but not for long. 16 seconds later Powell (Cardinals) tied the game back up at 46. End of regulation, the score was tied up at 46.
In the extra four minutes the Tigers edged out the Cardinals 5-2. Simmons finished with a game high 20 points. Simmons was also the only player to score in all five quarters. Powell (Cardinals) finished with a team high 17 points.
Both teams are back in action on Saturday January 25th. Bishop Snyder will take on Atlantic Coast at the University of North Florida (UNF) at 11am. Andrew Jackson will travel to First Coast and take on the Buccaneers at 7pm.
