PREP HOOPS: Smiths Station girls top Auburn High

This year’s Smiths Station girls basketball team has a vastly different look from the one that made it to the school’s first-ever state semifinal last year.

But one of the Panthers’ constants could still win them a number of games this season, as she did against Auburn High on Saturday night.

Erika Jones, a 6-foot-1 UCF commit, led Smiths Station with 19 points in a 41-39 win over the Tigers.

Despite battling foul trouble in the second half, Jones also tallied nine rebounds and four blocks over the final 16 minutes.

Achaia Cobb, another holdover from last year, added 10 for the Panthers (2-2).

“We pretty much know who our go-to people are,” Smtihs Station coach Shana Johnson said. “But (the team) really hasn’t jelled yet. Once we get some of those things figured out and play better defense, we should be in good shape.”

Auburn (2-2) trailed by 7 with about four minutes to go, but it ripped off a 5-0 run in the next minute to get back into the game.

After Smiths Station extended its lead back out to 5, a Kierra Scott 3-pointer brought the Tigers back to within a bucket with 17 seconds to go.

The Panthers missed the front end of a one-and-one and Auburn had the chance for a final shot with 2.7 seconds to go, but a Keaundra Cox steal ended the threat.

Scott paced the Tigers — who trailed, 16-7, at the half — with 15 points, Brittney Strozer scored 8, and Halle Bentley added 7.

“My girls, I want them to get better every game,” Tigers coach Terryland Dawson said. “Each time we go out, we got to put a complete game together. We’ve put some quarters together, but we’ve got to play a whole four quarters.”

In the boys game, the Tigers didn’t seem to mind that about half of their team was missing because of the football team’s run to the state semifinals.

Auburn made do — and then some — with its eight players, taking control early and coasting to a 70-39 win over the Panthers.

Michael Willis, the Tigers’ only regular starter that suited up in their home opener, led the team with 20 points and nine rebounds.

All eight of Auburn’s players scored.

“I saw some exciting things out there,” Tigers coach Frank Tolbert said. “And once we get all the other kids to go along with them, and they buy into what we’re trying to do, I think we should have a decent ballclub.”

The missing starters are 6-foot-8 center LaMichael Fanning (also a defensive end), 6-5 forward Tony Holland (wide receiver), 6-0 point guard Calvin Jenkins (quarterback) and 6-3 forward Jason Webb (wide receiver).

Their absence forced some of the Tigers’ players to play out of position, such as Willis, normally a guard who had to play post Saturday.

But Auburn’s offense showed no ill effects: The Tigers shot 50 percent from the field, and 18 of their 31 field goals were assisted.

“(Saturday) was a total team effort,” Tolbert said.

“It’s got to be,” assistant coach Chris Brandt added.

“With what few we’ve got,” Tolbert concluded.

Jeremy Nolen scored 12 for the Tigers and Deshawn Dowdell had 10.

Varyan Hood led the Panthers with 11 points and five rebounds, and Jabari Penda had five rebounds to go along with 6 points.

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