By Joshua Huff, sports editor
The Pinson Valley boys’ basketball team shook off a two-game losing streak and ticked off three consecutive wins this past week as the Indians stretched their record to 13-3, which matches one of the best starts in program history.
Following losses to Lithonia and Huffman, the latter in the inaugural Chick-Fil-A Classic Showcase, Pinson Valley took to the Joe Horn Classic Showcase this past Friday and Saturday and defeated Horn Lake (Miss.), 64-48, and Columbus (Miss.), 63-60, in overtime.
The Indians then followed with an 80-73 victory over Ramsay in Pinson Valley’s second home game of the season.
Against Horn Lake, the Indians were led by Kam Woods’ 24 points. Ga’Quincy McKinstry followed with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and JoJo James added 10 points with 7 rebounds.
Woods carried over his torrid scoring streak with a 25-point, 4-steal game in the overtime victory over Columbus. McKinstry recorded 16 points, Camron Scott added a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. In the game, Columbus rallied from a 38-44 third quarter deficit to even the game at 53 following a 15-9 advantage in the fourth quarter. The Indians outscored Columbus 10-7 in overtime.
In the win against Ramsay, Woods tallied 33 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists with 4 steals. DeMarques Densmore went off with 17 points, while James added 15 points with 7 rebounds. Scott recorded his second consecutive double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Pinson Valley, which sits at No. 7 in Class 6A, is led by Woods’ 35.7 points per game. Woods, the reigning Class 6A player of the year, spent the summer playing AAU ball with the Nightrydas Elite (Fla.) where he averaged 10.3 points per game in 18 games. Woods had multiple 20-point games during the 2019 Nike EYBL tournament and the Peach Jam.
McKinstry, who has only played in 10 games the season because of the football team’s deep run through the state playoffs, averages 14.7 points per game. Jones, a junior, averages 11.7 points per game, and Scott, who has been a force on the boards, averages 11.6 rebounds per game along with scoring 8.5 points per game.
As a team, the Indians average 74.2 points per game along with 36 rebounds per game and 12 steals per game.
Two of Pinson Valley’s three losses have come against Class 6A Huffman (12-2).
@KamGlizzzy3 with the buzzer beater headed to the fourth quarter. Momma there goes that man @coachbarber @_coachbragg @PinsonHoops @GaQMcK1 🏀🏀🏀 pic.twitter.com/98JsWtazNu
— James Williams (@biggamejames21) December 24, 2019