Fleming Island- Jackson improved to 9-3 on the season after defeating Creekside 63-44 in the Fleming Island holiday basketball tournament. The Battle of the Island saw several teams compete from various areas. Yet Jackson would represent for Northeast Florida.
Jackson jumped out to a 16-7 first quarter lead against the Knights. Antonio Sheffield led the way hitting big 3-pointer in the first quarter on their way to the win. Ronald Durham was named tournament MVP, as he helped guide his team to victories over Sante Fe Catholic 65-46, and Gainesville 63-28.
It was a total team effort, as it always is with the Tigers. Octavious Lawson and Jaylen Dopson showed their versatile skill-sets playing suffocating defense turning transition opportunities into points. Both Lawson and Dopson were named to the All-tournament team. Creekside’s Nolan Nelson and Ethan Tucker were named to the All-tournament team.
Jackson’s win over Creekside was a revenge win from an earlier 59-56 loss to the Knights at the beginning of the season. That loss was seemingly the catalyst for Jackson’s winning formula as the Tigers have won 7 of the last 8 games since. Those wins include San Jose Prep (62-61) and against Paxon (54-49).
Jackson’s only loss in that span came at the hands of Ribault 48-45. The Tigers will get a rematch against the Trojans two days after Christmas which is sure to be a good one. They’ve already handed one team a loss who they fell to earlier in the season. They’ll look to deal another one, after their dominant performance on the Island.
