CAMDEN — By PATRIC FLANNIGAN
Sports editor
The Camden Fairview basketball program continued to make its way in the 4A with both varsity teams remaining undefeated in conference play.
The Lady Cardinals defeated Monticello 53-44 while the Cardinals beat the Billies 66-64.
Despite playing without one of its post players in Jhiya Jefferson who was out with an injury, the Lady Cardinals did a great job of crashing the glass - something that it struggled to do in its previous game on the road against Crossett. The Lady Cardinals opened the game with a 8-2 run as it caught on fire from behind the three point line with long distance bombs from Jayla Jackson and Anna Dawson. But Monticello’s athletic guard play kept the visiting team in the game with the Lady Billies only trailing 24-21 at the half.
The Lady Cardinals responded by outscoring Monticello 19-13 in the third as Jackson, Dawson and Takari Glover each added threes in the quarter.
In the fourth, the Lady Cardinals slowed things down and were able to earn the win.
Jackson led the team with 16 points - nine from beyond the arch. Dawson added 11 as Tai’Sheka Porchia scored ten points, reeled in nine rebounds, four steals and four blocks. Raven Porchia had six rebounds to go along with seven points and Takari Glover scored nine points.
Shorthanded Cardinals
down Billies
The varsity boys game ran heavy with emotion as C.F. was playing without two of its teammates due to the loss of their father who has also been a familiar face around the AAU circuit - Chris Strahan. Chris volunteered his time to coach and coach against numerous players in the south west Arkansas area and was a standout basketball player in high school.
C.F. Head Coach Josh Nix and EB Williams Youth Center founder Eric Gunter spoke to the team prior to the game and C.F. came out clicking on all cylinders dedicating the game to the memory of Chris Strahan and their “brothers’ and teammates Kris Strahan and Christian Strahan during their time of loss.
The inspired Cardinals jumped out to a 19-5 lead prompting a Monticello timeout at the 1:42 mark of the first quarter. Qwai Thompson led the charge by scoring 11 points in the opening quarter by cutting to the lane, connecting from long distance and throwing down an emphatic dunk to set the tone.
Monticello started to chip its way back into the game and only trailed 38-28 at the half.
Monticello would make things even more interesting in the third and only trailed 52-48 to open the quarter.
Javion Clemmer was the jolt of energy C.F. needed throughout the night and was a key part of the Cardinals in the fourth 6-0 run in the fourth to put the Cardinals up 58-48. He came up with a steal, an assists, a block and a three-point play to put the Cardinals up 58-48.
From there, CF did just enough to win the game by shooting 7/11 from the foul line down the stretch. Thompson was clutch from the free throw line in the final quarter going 5/6. Monticello hit a three at the buzzer to set the final margin.
Thompson finished with a game high of 23 points and two blocks. Tyree Holliman flirted with a double-double with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Jalen Moore scored 10 points despite being banged up in the second half. Clemmer scored nine points to go along with four rebounds and three steals. DaShaire Ford Burton finished with seven points and two steals.