The opening night of the 2023 East Marion Holiday Classic featured four contests, and each featured a double-digit margin of victory. Wins by Jeff Davis County, the Lady Trojans of West Marion and the Eagles of East Marion set up the championship games for Friday.
Jeff Davis County Lady Jaguars 77 | Columbia Lady Wildcats 62
The Lady Wildcats had won six in a row heading into the opening night of the Holiday Classic, but they were no match for the now 9-1 Jeff Davis County Lady Jaguars. Columbia (8-4) trailed at halftime by 10, but it started off quickly in the second half to make some noise, featuring a pair of made free throws by Payshunce Sims, a pair of steals and a layup by Jakira Brown to pull within six. However, foul trouble and turnovers against a stout JDC defense spelled doom for the Lady Wildcats, resulting in a streak-busting 77-62 loss.
Jeff Davis County Jaguars 67 | Columbia Wildcats 54
The Wildcats and Jaguars engaged in a highly-contested first half, with JDC holding a 33-28 advantage at the break. Three free throws following a Columbia technical foul, a three-pointer and a layup off of a turnover quickly catapulted JDC to a huge 41-28 lead in the second half. The Jaguars led by as many as 19 in the third quarter before the Wildcats went on a 13-2 run to make it 56-48. The Jaguars held on, though, by playing tough down the stretch to take down the Wildcats 67-54 and advance to the championship game.
West Marion Lady Trojans 40 | East Marion Lady Eagles 29
The Lady Eagles dominated the third quarter, but the Lady Trojans took full control in the fourth quarter to come out on top. West Marion led 16-12 at halftime before East Marion outscored the Lady Trojans 13-2 in the third quarter to lead 25-18. When it mattered most, though, the Lady Trojans came through to outscore the Lady Eagles 22-4 in the final quarter to advance to the championship game Friday.
East Marion Eagles 71 | West Marion Trojans 41
This game was never in doubt. The Eagles avenged their Dec. 8 loss to the Trojans in a big way to advance to the championship game and face JDC Friday night.
East Marion Holiday Classic Friday schedule:
4 p.m. - Columbia vs. East Marion (girls third-place game)
5:30 p.m. - West Marion vs. Columbia (boys third-place game)
7 p.m. - Jeff Davis County vs. West Marion (girls championship game)
8:30 p.m. - Jeff Davis County vs. East Marion (boys championship game)
