Basketball Recap: Z Zakarion Simpson's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Laurens over High Point Academy

Laurens was not able to break out of their rough patch on Tuesday as the team picked up their fifth straight defeat dating back to last season. They fell 55-46 to the High Point Academy Grizzlies. The result was an unpleasant reminder to the Raiders of the 69-61 loss they experienced in the pair's previous head-to-head fixture back in January of 2023.

Z Zakarion Simpson

Rebounds

11/25/25 vs High Point Academy	18
11/24/25 vs Mauldin	13
11/23/25 @ Eastside	17
11/22/25 vs J.L. Mann	16
02/17/25 vs Berea	8

Several Raiders players turned in solid performances despite ultimately coming up short. Perhaps the best among those players was Z Zakarion Simpson, who posted six points along with 18 boards and five blocks. Simpson has been hot, having posted eight or more rebounds the last five times he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Q Quinton Watts, who almost dropped a double-double with 12 points and nine boards.

Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead High Point Academy to victory, but perhaps none more so than J'Sean Sanders, who went 7-for-16 to rack up 21 points. Chris Copeland was another key player, shooting 56% from the field en route to 12 points in addition to five rebounds and three steals.

Laurens' defeat dropped their record down to 0-4. As for High Point Academy, the victory got them back to even at 1-1.

Laurens has already played their next contest, a 76-43 win against Spartanburg Christian Academy on the 26th. As for High Point Academy, they also wasted no time getting back out on the court and have already played their next matchup, a 66-58 loss against Spartanburg on the 26th.