Lamar boys basketball team off to 2-3 start in region play

Lamar – The Lamar High School football team had an outstanding season, reaching the third

round of the Class A state playoffs. The Silver Foxes’ gridiron run, however, has hindered the boys

basketball team because of 2-sport athletes.

LHS has already played 13 games though, starting 3-10 with a 2-3 record in Region 2. Head coach

Brian Scott has seen glimpses of solid play though.

“At times we have played to the level I expected and we are starting to be consistent even though

the record doesn’t say that,” Scott said. “The majority of my players are coming from football and we

haven’t had much time to practice and build chemistry, but we’re not going to use that as an excuse.

“We going to continue to get better and compete for the region championship.”

Lamar has three returning starters in seniors Xavier “Zoom” Jackson, Alvion Ward and

NyShaun Quillen. The other two starters are Christavion Stephenson and freshman Lamont Williams.

Quillen is the leading scorer at 10.3 points per game, Williams is averaging 8.7 points and a team

high 7.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots. Jackson is averaging 4.9 points, 2.5 assists and 2.6 steals, Ward

is averaging 4.1 points and Stephenson 3.0 points.

Other key members of the rotation are junior Nygel Eaddy (3.5 ppg), senior JiQuavis Durant

(2.7 ppg), junior Kamiil McCoy (5.5 ppg) and sophomore Messiah Sims (5.7 ppg).

“We just need to keep improving at everything,” Scott said. “Now that we have played some

games and see what we can get better at, we’re going to continue to practice and work hard at the

fundamentals.”

8 FOOTBALL PLAYERS ALL-REGION SELECTIONS

The Silver Foxes had eight football players named first team All-Region with quarterback Zori

Pierce leading the way.

Pierce was selected as the Region Offensive Player of the Year. The junior completed 114 of 190

passes for 1,719 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also rushed for 438 yards and six touchdowns on 75

carries.

Four other Silver Foxes were first team offensive picks. Left tackle Kendall Walton, who has

signed with East Carolina, was selected to play in the Shrine Bowl. He was joined on the first team by

fellow lineman Da’Vaughn Locust, the right guard.

Jackson, a wide receiver, had 55 catches for 883 yards and 16 touchdowns. Quillen had 10

catches for 228 yards and five TDs while carrying the ball two times for 68 yards and two scores.

Wiliams, senior defensive back Kamon Miller and senior linebacker Vernon Ervin were first

team defensive picks. Williams, a defensive end, had 51 tackles, 7 ½ tackles for loss and four quarterback

sacks, Miler had 72 tackles and two interceptions, and Ervin had a team high 139 tackles and 20 TFLs.

Second-team selections were Najh Johnson and Eaddy on offense and Ward and DQ Green on

defense.