Warnsley and Hersey Power Wolves to Road Win Over Bobcats

ELLISVILLE – The Co-Lin Men's Basketball team took to the road in conference action against Jones on Thursday, January 19. The Wolves beat the Bobcats in the final seconds of the game, 76-74.

The opening minutes of the game saw the Wolves and Bobcats trade scoring runs and ties, but ultimately the Bobcats held a 10-8 lead with 15 minutes left in the first half. The Wolves responded with a 13-9 scoring run to take a 21-19 lead with close to nine minutes of play remaining. The Bobcats responded with an 11-10 scoring run; however, the Wolves clung to a one-point, 31-30, lead with five minutes remaining in the first half. The Wolves closed out the half with a 16-13 scoring run to take a 46-44 lead to the locker room at halftime.

The Wolves came out in the second half and had an offensive explosion in the opening minutes in the form of an 18-4 scoring run to take a 64-48 lead over the Bobcats with close to 13 minutes left in the game. The Bobcats responded with a 16-10 scoring run, but the Wolves maintained their lead at 74-64 with just under five minutes remaining. The Bobcats then tied the game with ten unanswered points including the game-tying shot with 24 seconds remaining. However, the Wolves would not be denied as freshman forward Dylan Canoville (Plantation, Fla.) got the ball in the paint and finished with a dunk to give the Wolves a 76-74 lead with two seconds remaining. After a missed free throw by Canoville, the Wolves then denied the Bobcats an attempt at a potential tying or winning shot to secure the 76-74 win.

The Wolves had the two highest scoring players of the game as sophomore forward AJ Warnsley (Byram) and sophomore guard Jemario Hersey (Brookhaven) had their highest scoring games of the season. Warnsley posted his second straight double-double including a new career high in points with 30 along with 13 rebounds while Hersey notched his second-highest career scoring mark with 23 points along with eight rebounds.

Dylan Canoville narrowly missed his fourth straight double-double with nine points and nine rebounds while sophomore forward Kaeden Laws (Southaven) had seven points with six rebounds and five assists. Freshman guard Mike Smith (New Albany) had three points while sophomore guards Cowandric Samuel (Jackson) and Andrew Anderson (Hattiesburg) had two points each with Samuel adding five assists while Anderson led the Wolves in assists and steals with six and four respectively.

Co-Lin improves to 8-5 overall, 2-2 in conference play, and will return to action hosting Mississippi Delta on Monday, January 23. Tip-off between the Trojans and the Wolves is scheduled for 6 p.m., at Mullen Gym in Wesson.