Jabarie Robinson, Tremaine Dixon lead Raymond past Leake Central in 4A Semifinals

JACKSON — For the sixth year in a row, Raymond will play for a state championship.

Behind a strong fourth quarter and the dynamic duo of Tremaine Dixon and Jabarie Robinson, the Rangers got past Leake Central 57-44 in the Semifinal Round of the MHSAA Boys Class 4A playoffs at the Mississippi Coliseum on Monday night.

Raymond (28-5) will face Clarksdale for the Class 4A State Championship at 7 p.m. Thursday night.

“Those guys are the best back court in the state and those guys are leaders and I don’t have to say much to them at all,” said Raymond coach Tony Tadlock. “That second place feeling, we don’t want anymore and those have said we’re getting it done this year.”

The first three quarters were tight, but Raymond never trailed until the third quarter. The Rangers held a 16-12 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 24-23 lead at halftime.

After Leake Central took a 31-29 lead with just over three minutes left in the third quarter, Raymond scored the final five points of the period to take a 34-31 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter the Rangers went on a 14-3 run to take a 48-34 lead and put the game out of reach.

“This senior class for us has been a special group," Tadlock said. "They took the game over in the fourth quarter with their skill set and leadership. Four years and reached the state championship all four years. We've got a tough opponent in Clarksdale, but I’m glad we’re playing.”

Robinson had 22 points to lead Raymond.

“We really had to sit down and play defense. We weren’t very disciplined at the beginning of the game,” Robinson said. “It’s a blessing to reach state championship my senior and just trying to go out on top. We will prepare of the next two days and be ready.”

Dixon added 20 points for the Rangers.

“Difference tonight is we’ve been prepared for this all season and staying calm throughout the game,” Dixon said. “We went through adversity and found a way to win.”

Ca’Lexis Campbell had 22 points to lead Leake Central, while Avontae Jones added seven points for the Gators (26-2).

“We didn’t shoot well and at the end of third and start of the fourth quarter we went on a drought and that was the difference, and their defense had a lot to do with that,” said Leake Central coach Carl Wilbanks. “We couldn’t stop Robinson from penetrating and it just wasn’t our night."