Varsity Rangers Improve Record to 5-3 with Key Road Victory at Dixie Academy

LOUISVILLE, AL - Coach Jeff Damron's Varsity Rangers Basketball Five outscored Dixie Academy 16 - 9 in the fourth quarter to seal a 53- 51 win over the Rebels on Jan. 8.  The key region victory improves the Rangers record to 5 - 3 for the 2008 - 2009 season, while Dixie falls to 6 - 9.

Lyman Ward  led 27 - 21 at halftime, but Coach Mack Williams' Rebels rallied to outscore the Rangers 20 - 10 in the third stanza.  The Fighting Rangers employed a half-court trap to generate some key turnovers, which resulted in fast break baskets.

Senior guard Justin Minor of Starkville, MS, scored a game-high 30 points - his third consecutive 30-point effort - to lead the Rangers' scoring parade.  He also contributed five steals and four assists.  Freshman guard Amory Thompson added 11 points and seven rebounds, while senior post Zavious Darling had a game-high 11 rebounds and four points.  Senior post Kyle Johnson added 10 rebounds to the winning cause.

"This was another hard-fought win in a tough environment," Damron said after the game.  "Our free throw shooting was atrocious (0-for-10).  Dixie is a very hard nosed, scrappy team, so we are fortunate to get out of here with a victory.

"Justin Minor continues to score at an amazing clip; he has scored 95 points in our last three games.  He just gets out on the break and takes high percentage shots that he doesn't miss very often.  We needed a game like this; we still are working on being patient and playing smart in time-and-score situations."

The Rangers travel to Montgomery, AL, for a Saturday afternoon contest at Lighthouse Christian Academy.