On Tuesday night, the Kemp Yellowjackets’ boys’ basketball team opened its 2018-2019 season at home with a 49-46 victory over the Ferris Yellowjackets. It was the first game for new head coach Jeff Mason, who took over for Jordan Bedford. After Ferris opened with a 4-0 lead, a basket by Darel Booker, a three-pointer by Boomer Irvin and a layup by Jaise Bowie put Kemp ahead 7-4. Ferris then used a 9-0 stretch to lead 13-7 with 2:43 left in the first quarter. Kemp would tie it up at 13-13 going into the second quarter with Mason Claver’s three-pointer, a free throw from Colton Dyer and a layup from Taylor Donovan. With Ferris leading 21-15 with 1:40 until halftime, Claver’s three-pointer snapped a Kemp scoring drought of over five minutes to trail 21-18. But Victor Morales’ three-pointer with three seconds left allowed Ferris to lead 24-18 at the break. Kemp started the second half red-hot with a 10-0 run, including four points apiece from Irvin and Cameron Clamon, to lead 28-24 with 4:27 left in the third quarter. Ferris would quickly tie it 28-28, Donovan gave Kemp the lead back, 31-28, with his three-pointer, but Ferris went on an 8-0 stretch, including Demarcus Rankin’s five points, to close the third quarter leading 36-31. Trailing 41-35, Irvin put together seven of Kemp’s nine straight points to jump ahead 46-41 with 1:47 left in regulation. Carter Fagan’s three-pointer nine seconds later had Ferris trail 46-44, but Booker’s fastbreak layup allowed Kemp to lead 48-44. With six seconds left, Fagan put in a layup to trail 48-46, but Booker would sink a clutch free throw with one second left and Kemp would hold off Ferris for the 49-46 win. Boomer Irvin led Kemp with 13 points. Behind him was Dylan Ashcraft with 10, Darel Booker with seven, Mason Claver with six, Clamon with five and Jaise Bowie and Taylor Donovan with two apiece. Kemp plays at home on Tuesday night against Grand Saline.