Holiday Invitational

Garner tops Moss Point, defends scoring record

Often times seventh place games don't have much on the line, that wasn't the case on Saturday morning when Garner played Moss Point (MS) in the HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational.
Posted 2013-12-28T17:08:44+00:00 - Updated 2013-12-28T22:58:52+00:00

Often times seventh place games don't have much on the line, that wasn't the case on Saturday morning when Garner played Moss Point (MS) in the HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational.

Moss Point's Devin Booker, a Kentucky recruit, entered the game 35 points shy of the all-time scoring record of 115 points, held by former Garner player Donald Williams. Williams, who set the record in 1990, is an assistant coach this season at Garner.

Booker started slow, scoring just four points in the first quarter. Garner jumped out to a quick first quarter lead, 12-5.

Moss Point battled back in the second quarter behind 11 points from Booker. They led Garner 24-23 at halftime.

Garner took control in the third quarter though, leading by as many as 10 points in the game. The Trojans had a 10-point lead with 4:19 left in the game, but Booker helped close the gap.

Free throws down the stretch in the final minute of the game helped Garner secure the victory though.

Booker ended the game with 31 points, giving him a total of 111 points for the tournament, four points shy of the all-time record. He is second all-time in scoring after his performance though.

Booker was 10-of-22 from the field, including 1-of-8 from 3-point range.

Garner was led in by Justin Baird's 21 points and 11 rebounds. Baird hit two of the free throws that helped seal the game for Garner.

Jashaun Smith also scored 12 points for Garner.

Garner finishes the HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational in seventh place in the Shavlik Randolph Foundation Bracket. The Trojans went 1-2 in the tournament, losing to Wheeler and Broughton in the first two rounds.

Moss Point was 0-3 in the tournament, placing eighth.

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