High school basketball: Campbell boys, Kennett girls get better through jamboree play

BOOTHEEL — Both the Kennett High School’s girls basketball team and Campbell boys basketball team served as jamboree hosts Thursday evening.

The Kennett girls faced both Holcomb and Twin Rivers, with two eight-minute quarters and clock stoppages.

“The girls played hard and came out with good energy,” Kennett first-year head coach Erika Cobb said in an email to the Delta Dunklin Democrat.

Campbell High School�s Drew Fowler (14) finds himself double-teamed by a pair of St. Paul Lutheran players while on the fastbreak during a jamboree game dated Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023.(Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

“We had some moments that were better than others, but they are working hard in practice and they are continuing to learn,” Cobb added.

The Indians were very sound defensively, jumping into passing lanes and putting pressure on opponents in the backcourt.

Kennett’s glorifed scrimmage versus Twin Rivers was stopped in the second period due to a medical emergency.

Kennett�s Tayja Carter (10) applies stout defense on a Twin Rivers player during a girls' basketball jamboree at Kennett High School dated Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

“I liked that we got to play someone else besides ourselves or the junior varsity boys,” Holcomb head coach Alexa Stockton said. “It was good for our girls to see where they are at, and what we need to work on.”

Campbell played both Holcomb and St. Paul Lutheran, a private school two hours north of here in Farmington.

“I thought the jamboree went well,” Campbell head coach Steve Fowler said. “Our kids competed and played hard in both games. We were able to learn some things that we really need to focus on moving forward.

Campbell's Elyssa Schatz (22) looks for room to dribble while defended by a player from Advance during a jamboree game from Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, in Campbell. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

“It was a great night of high school basketball for our fans, and we had several different teams come and participate,” Fowler added.

Campbell was at its best in the transition game, turning strong defense into ready-made offense — scoring on plenty of layups.

Holcomb head boys coach John Hixson also commented on his squad’s performance.

“I felt like we played really hard and competed all evening,” Hixson noted. “We definitely need to improve offensively, but it’s early on and that’s to be expected.”

Clarkton’s boys also participated in a three-team jamboree last night, competing against East Carter and Marquand-Zion, who happened to begin the regular season Friday versus Cooter.

“I was very pleased with how the jamboree went last night,” Clarkton head coach Cole McBroom said. “We played three very competitive quarters with East Carter. Everyone got in a little run versus Marquand-Zion.”

COMING UP

The regular season begins next week for others in the region, including Campbell’s boys on Friday, Nov. 24, at the Riverbend Shootout in New Madrid. The Camels will square off with Cuba at 2 p.m.

Clarkton plays Van Buren at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, in the popular Thanksgiving weekend event, the Current River Challenge.

Holcomb has drawn the No. 8 seed for the Bernie Invitational Tournament. The Hornets will play top-seeded Puxico at 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27.

The Campbell girls will play Caruthersville at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27, in the opening round of the seven-team Al Jackson Classic.

Holcomb girls will play Scott County Central at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28.

The Kennett girls have drawn the No. 5 seed for the SEMO Conference Tournament at New Madrid. The Indians will play No. 4 Cape Central at 7 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 28.