Splitting two games at Houston County last week has the Henry County High School boys’ basketball team looking to get off to a fast start to the 2024 portion of its schedule.

The Patriots dropped a 56-44 decision to Houston County Dec. 28 in Erin before rebounding to pound Waverly 64-44 on Dec. 29. Henry County's record moved to 7-5 after those two games which were played without senior forward Caden Marshall, who is nursing an injury.

On Tuesday, the Patriots played host to Stewart County at Gamlin Gymnasium. Henry County will begin its District 14-4A campaign on Friday with a 7:30 p.m. contest at Kenwood High School in Clarksville. The Patriots will step outside the district to travel to McKenzie on Jan. 8 before playing a district game at West Creek High School on Jan. 12 in Clarksville.

IRISH 56, PATRIOTS 44

Henry County ran into some scoring difficulties in the loss to Houston County. The Irish grabbed a 10-7 first-quarter lead thanks to five points from Carson Conwell. Daveion Barker sank a 3-point basket in the first period for the Patriots.

Houston County’s 13-11 scoring edge in the second period gave the Irish a 23-18 halftime advantage. Casen Clark hit two 3-point shots for the Irish in the second quarter. Barker scored five points for Henry County, including a 3-point basket.

A 17-10 scoring run in the third period pushed Houston County's lead to 40-28. Mac Baggett erupted for eight points for the Irish, including two 3-point baskets. Aden Jackson sank a 3-pointer for Henry County while Javion Boyd added three more points.

Both teams tossed in 16 points in the fourth quarter which made Houston County's margin of victory 56-44. Both Mac and Jed Baggett scored four points for Houston County in the fourth stanza. Henry County got seven points from Carson Curd.

Barker led the Patriots in scoring with 14 points while Curd added 11. Kayden Kendall hit for nine points while Boyd checked in with five. Jackson scored three points and Kendrick Moore tossed in two.

Houston County got 16 points from Clark while Mac Baggett scored 15. Jed Baggett chipped in 11 points with Conwell finishing with eight. Hagan Honeywell scored four points and Brady Bucciarelli added two points. 

PATRIOTS 64, TIGERS 44

Henry County’s offense awoke on Friday in the battle with Waverly. The Patriots raced out to a 20-8 lead in the first quarter thanks to six points from Moore. Landon Cunningham scored four points for Waverly in the first period.

Waverly rebounded to post an 11-7 scoring edge in the second period to trim Henry County's lead to 27-19 at halftime. Cunningham scored five more points for the Tigers in the second period. Henry County got a basket each from Moore, Curd and Barker.

The Patriots regained control by going on a 23-13 scoring run in the third period to build a 50-32 lead. Boyd hit for five points, including a 3-point basket, in the third period for the Patriots. Curd and Luke Stephens added four points each. Waverly's Tucker Rawlings connected on two 3-point shots.

Henry County closed out the win with a 14-12 scoring edge in the fourth quarter to make the final score 64-44. Moore and Barker both tossed in four points in the last frame for the Patriots. Cunningham scored seven points for Waverly.

Barker paced the Patriots in scoring with 17 points while Moore contributed 14 and Kendall scored 11. Boyd finished with nine points while Curd added eight and Stephens scored five.

Waverly’s top scorer was Cunningham with 19 points. Rawlings chipped in 10 points while Malachi Burns scored six. Hayden Waggoner added five points with both Aiden Ralston and Zech Evans scoring two points.

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