Port St. Joe freshman Justus Barber, at right, defends against Wewa junior Jayvyn Walker in Dec. 6 action. [ Bill Fauth | Contributed ]
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Tiger Sharks lift record to 6-3

With four wins over the past six games, the Port St. Joe Tiger Sharks boys basketball team has lifted its record to 6-3, with two games left in 2024.

On Dec. 10 at Mosley, the Tiger Sharks edged the Dolphins 56-52, as sophomore Jayden Reese scored a dozen points. Freshman Justus Barber and senior Kanaan Jefferson each tallied 11, while sophomore Zay Jenkins poured in 10 points, plus 11 assists. Sophomore Mase Larry scored eight points, and junior Elijah Harris and sophomore Darion Cherry each two.

Barber grabbed eight rebounds Jenkins seven and Harris six. The team shot 60 percent from the field and 47 percent from the free throw line.



On Dec. 13 at home against Wakulla, Port St. Joe built up a 47-21 lead at the half against the War Eagles and cruised to a 70-45 win.

Jenkins was the offensive leader, with 21 points, 14 assists and four steals. Senior J.D. Becton scored 11, Barber and Jefferson each 10, and Reese and Larry each six. Cherry added one. Barber grabbed six rebounds and had three steals.

The team shot 81 percent from the field, but just 21 percent from outside the arc, and hit 64 percent of their free throws.

On Dec. 16 in Panama City, the Tiger Sharks swamped Covenant Christian 67-20, as Larry drained 24 points, including four treys. Senior Elijah Robinson tallied 16, with freshman Ben Turrell scoring a dozen. Senior Jamal Leslie added six, freshman Bentley Davis four, Cherry three and senior Daren Angelino two.

Leslie and Larry each grabbed 10 rebounds, as the team shot 48 percent from the field and 57 percent from the free throw line.

On Dec. 19 at home, Port St. Joe was upended by Niceville 49-41, as the team shot just 25 percent from the field.

Jenkins hit for a season-high 27 points, with Larry scoring five, Becton four, Jefferson three and Reese two. Barber pulled down 10 rebounds and blocked two shots.

On Dec. 20 at home, the Tiger Sharks downed Cornerstone Charter Academy, from Belle Isle, 85-53.

On Dec. 21 in Chatsworth, Georgia, Port St. Joe fell to the North Murray Mountaineers 62-52.

The Tiger Sharks were set to play Sneads Dec. 27, and Cottondale Dec. 28, before resuming play in 2025 on Jan. 3 by hosting the 11-1 Bethlehem Wildcats out of Bonifay.



Meet the Editor

David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.

Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.

In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.

Wendy Weitzel The Star Digital Editor

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