– Warren Barbee Colt Classic – Seminoles post 60-50 win

LUXORA - The first annual Warren Barbee Colt Classic featured nine teams from eastern Arkansas, including seven teams from Mississippi and Poinsett counties, with action taking place at the Charles Strong Center in Luxora.

The first game pitted two of those northeastern Arkansas teams in tradition rich Marked Tree and Osceola and the Seminoles (3-8) pulled away in the third quarter to post the 60-50 win.

The Noles stretched a three-point halftime lead to 14 points by the end of the third quarter. OHS outscored Marked Tree (8-2) 23-7 in the first five minutes of the period, leading by as many as 19 at 49-30 when A.J. Brown drained a three-pointer.

Marked Tree’s Jakaymion Williams looks for a teammate as he is pressured by an Osceola defender during opening day action of the first annual Warren Barbee Colt Classic. Osceola outscored the Indians 34-27 in the second half to post the 10-point win.

Osceola connected on nine of its 15 field goal tries, while Marked Tree managed just three baskets in 12 attempts. The Seminole defensive pressure also created four turnovers and one steal in the frame.

M.J. Washington, who led Osceola with 14 points, scored the first six points of the quarter. His and-1 pushed the lead to 32-23, before Marked Tree’s Josh Rand snapped the string with a pair of free throws.

On the ensuing Seminole possession, Jeriyan Long worked inside where Brown passed for an easy Long bucket returning the Nole lead to nine.

Marked Tree then turned the ball over on consecutive possessions with the later leading to a Jeremiah Jacobs stickback of a missed three. Jacobs, despite his small stature, dominated the glass with 13 offensive boards to go along with his 12 points. All in all, Osceola grabbed 21 offensive boards to Marked Tree’s five. In total, OHS out rebounded the Indians, 36-17.

A Jacobs block led to a Richard High breakaway dunk which stretched the lead to 15 points at 42-27 with just under four minutes to play in the quarter.

A Cameron Marshall three interrupted the Osceola run, but the Seminoles did reel off seven straight points with Brown scoring five.

Marked Tree scored seven of the next nine points to close the gap to 51-37 at the end of the frame.

The Indians did come as close as seven points at 54-47 in the fourth period when Ladarris Brown drained a three-pointer. However, Osceola squelched the rally behind a Jacobs putback and two free throws from Washington.

The Seminoles placed four players in double figures. In addition to Washington and Jacobs, Brown had 13 and High 11. Long tallied eight.

The Indians Brown led all scorers with 17, with Landon Lewis and Ken Carter chipping in eight apiece.