Basketball Recap: Semaj Brown's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Jules E. Mastbaum Vo-Tech over Motivation

Jules E. Mastbaum Vo-Tech was the 73-49 winner over Motivation when they last played one another back in February of 2024, but their luck changed this time around. The Jules E. Mastbaum Vo-Tech Panthers took a 78-65 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Motivation Jaguars on Thursday. The Panthers' defeat signaled the end of their three-game winning streak.

Several Panthers players turned in solid performances despite ultimately coming up short. Perhaps the best among those players was Semaj Brown, who posted 25 points. The dominant performance gave Brown a new career-high in points. Cedrick Brown Jr was another key player, putting up 16 points.

Chace White was his usual excellent self, going 12 for 22 on his way to 31 points and four steals for Motivation. White has been hot, having posted four or more steals the last six times he's played. Another player making a difference was Kevin Looney, who dropped a double-double on 12 points and 12 boards.

Jules E. Mastbaum Vo-Tech's loss dropped their record down to 10-4. As for Motivation, the victory was the seventh in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 15-7.

Jules E. Mastbaum Vo-Tech will square off against Thomas A. Edison at 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Thomas A. Edison will roll in looking for their fourth straight win, something Jules E. Mastbaum Vo-Tech surely won't give up without a fight. As for Motivation, a feisty cat fight is on tap when the Motivation Jaguars take on the Lincoln Leadership Academy Lions at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Motivation is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 56.4 points per game this season.