By Jeff Devine
The Ariton Purple Cats’ boys varsity basketball team kicked off their season with a hard-fought 58–54 victory over Wicksburg on Tuesday night, edging out the Panthers in a game defined by defensive intensity and steady resilience.
Ariton delivered a balanced offensive attack, led by Addison Senn’s 21 points. Easton Kilpatrick powered the Purple Cats inside with a dominant double-double—13 points and 15 rebounds—while Bryson Rhett added 14 points to round out the scoring leaders.
Coach Brett Goodson praised the team’s toughness in the season opener, noting just how competitive the matchup proved to be. “It was a back-and-forth game with a lot of great defensive possessions by both teams,” Goodson said. “I’m proud of the way our guys battled to finish strong.”
Wicksburg kept the pressure on throughout, placing four players in double figures. John Mordecai led the Panthers with 15 points, followed by Kolt Dickerson with 13. Owens Hughes scored 12, and Jamien Ward added 11 in a well-rounded effort.
In the closing minutes, Ariton’s composure and rebounding advantage helped seal the win, giving the Purple Cats an encouraging start to the new season.
Ariton High Boys Basketball Team for 2025-2026 season with coach.
