By Robert Wilson
Lanier defeated Raymond 64-48 to win the MHSAA Class 4A state boys basketball championship last season.
The two teams hadn’t played each other since then until last week.
Raymond’s Jabarie Robinson made sure it was a different result this time.
The 6-foot senior guard had 29 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists to lead Raymond to 79-69 victory over Lanier last Tuesday night in a Class 4A, Region 6 game at Raymond.
Robinson also had 21 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals in a 62-57 victory over 2021 Class 6A state runner-up Starkville the day before in the Rumble in the South at Mississippi College in Clinton.
For his outstanding performances, Robinson has been named the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Boys Basketball Player of the Week.
And Robinson wasn’t at full speed last week. He tweaked his ankle against Starkville and played through it against Lanier. Raymond coach Tony Tadlock gave him the night off Friday against Wingfield.
“Jabarie had a really good week and it started with his performance against Starkville Monday and it continued against Lanier Tuesday,” Tadlock said. “He’s an extremely skilled guard that has the ability to make plays when the ball is in his hands.”
Robinson – a member of the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Preseason Elite 11 Team – is averaging 21.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.3 steals for 18-5 Raymond.
Robinson averaged 23.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists and led Raymond to a 22-6 record and its second straight MHSAA Class 4A runner-up finish last season as a junior. He made the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson second team last season. Robinson averaged 23.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5. 2 assists and helped Raymond to a 25-8 record and a MHSAA Class 4A runner-up finish as a sophomore. He made third team All-Metro.
Robinson has offers from East Mississippi Community College, Hinds CC, Meridian CC, Northeast Mississippi CC, Pearl River CC, and Southwest Mississippi CC.
