By Chris Brennaman / Assistant Sports Editor
Lamar missed its first six shots of the game and turned the ball over five times before finally making a basket Friday night.
During that time, Jackson Prep (13-6) put the Raiders in a 15-point hole they would never climb out of in the 67-49 decision.
Lamar's first points, which came on a layup by Taylor Mabry after he stole the ball at the top of the key on the opposite end, snapped its 6:24 scoring drought to start the game.
"We came out flat, and they were on fire at the beginning of the game," said Lamar coach Steve Harber. "I thought we did a good job in the second quarter getting back to within 12, but turnovers hurt us."
The Raiders turned the ball over 18 times, 10 coming in the first half. JP converted those turnovers into 14 points.
It took a little time for Lamar to find itself in a position to cut into the Patriots' 16-point lead entering the second quarter. The Raiders missed their first five shots of the period.
Lamar (8-8) kept Prep from scoring in the first 3 minutes of the quarter, but only managed two points from Doug Fort during that stretch.
The Raiders converted only 24 percent of their shots in the first half, including going 1-for-8 from behind the arc — Bo Bidgood sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the first quarter.
Bidgood led Lamar with 10 points, while Robert Coffin followed with eight.
With the game well in hand, all 18 players on the Jackson Prep bench saw playing time with 14 Patriots scoring.
Andrew Forester scored a game-high 12 and was the only Patriot to reach double digits. The bench combined for 33 points for JP.
Jackson Prep 49
Lamar girls 36
The Lady Patriots limited Lamar to just two points in the fourth quarter to dash the Lady Raiders' hopes of a comeback.
Lamar, which trailed by four points entering the final period, gave up a 3-pointer early in the quarter and never got any closer as JP pulled away.
Despite committing turnovers on each of their first three possessions of the second half, the Lady Raiders shaved five points off the Prep lead in the third quarter.
"I thought we played hard in spurts," said Lamar coach Brandi Reeves. "We didn't play real smart at times. Mental decisions were the difference in the game."
Jackson Prep scored 15 points off of 23 Lady Raider turnovers.
Lamar, which had only three offensive rebounds, was outworked on the glass 34-20.
Mary Grace Cady scored 11 points to lead Lamar. She missed out on a double-double by one rebound.
Rivers Uithoven had game-highs in both scoring (17) and rebounds (14) as Prep improved to 14-6. Lamar fell to 9-11.
Both Lamar teams will be back in action Tuesday as they travel to Presbyterian Christian.
