Destin High Shark basketball places fourth at Jingle Jam
After winning the opener, the Destin High Sharks lost Game 2 in overtime and then went down in Game 3 of the Christmas Jingle Jam tournament at Rocky Bayou Christian School in Niceville on Friday night.
The Sharks finished fourth in the eight-team basketball tournament.
“Our goal was to reach the championship game. But we failed in a tough overtime loss to Rocky at home, ”said Destin High coach Blake White.
“We played hard for this game, but we were chubby for the third game,” said White, with only an hour between games.
Nonetheless, he said, “I’m proud of the team’s rebound performance this week.”
The Sharks lost a tough home game Tuesday night to Bozeman ahead of the tournament.
More shark action:Destiny High Sharks fall prey to Bozeman Bucks in basketball
In the Jingle Jam opener, Destin defeated Calvary Christian 64-31.
“We played beautifully… we played as a team,” White said.
The Sharks took a 25-7 lead in the first quarter and have never looked back.
Deshawn Ford led the Sharks with 24 points. Syr Rhodes had three 3s on his way to 13 points and Baylen Knox drained four 3s for 12 points. John Rice scored eight.
In Game 2, Destin lost in overtime to home team Rocky Bayou, 78-77.
At the end of the first quarter, Destin held a lead of 27-26 and then 33-31 at the break. At the end of the three, Destin increased his lead to 56-45, but the Rocky Bayou Knights fired back in the fourth to tie the game, forcing him into extra time. The Knights won at the end.
More shark news:FWB alumnus EG Green named Destin football head coach
Following:From highway to waterway, Christmas has come to town in Destin this weekend
Ford again led the Sharks with 37 points. Rhodes scored 17 points, Knox scored nine and Sonny Taylor scored seven.
In Game 3, the Sharks lost to Alabama’s Elberta 62-49.
Destin stayed just one step ahead in the first half for a 28-22 lead at the break.
In the third quarter, Elberta began to pull away, edging the Sharks 23-11 for a 45-39 advantage going into the final period. Elberta scored 17 in the fourth against 10 for Destin.
Ford scored 18 points, while Taylor scored 15 for the Sharks.
“We are a young team that are struggling to grow but all of this will benefit us as we move forward this season,” said White.
After the Christmas break, the Sharks will be back home on Jan. 3 for a 6:30 p.m. game with the Paxton Bobcats. The game will take place at the Destin United Methodist Family Life Center.