This one mattered.
Both teams entered Friday night feeling the intensity of January region play. Eight teams. Four playoff berths. Every game matters in GHSA Class 3A, Region 3; no one can afford a loss.
Islands High School Sharks struck fast, coming out quick on a 5–0 run led by DJ Hills, who finished with 18 points. Hills opened with a three-pointer and a put-back basket, sparking the Sharks' early surge.
Islands’ DJ Hills goes up for a shot against Beach during Friday night’s GHSA Class 3A, Region 3 matchup. (Photo by Prep Sports Report)
But the game quickly shifted.
The Bulldogs answered with a 12–0 run and took control of the game. It wasn’t fancy. It was rebounds, effort, and second chances. Beach owned the boards in the first half and made the Sharks pay for it. The Sharks made one more push late in the first quarter, but the Bulldogs held the lead 14–12 at the end of the first quarter. The closest Islands would come.
Building off their first-quarter momentum, Beach turned up the pressure in the second. Full-court pressure forced turnovers, and the lead grew to 24–12 before Islands finally scored at the 4:30 mark. Though Islands fought back to cut it to 24–18, Beach closed the half strong, heading into the locker room up 27–18.
“We talked about energy at halftime,” Beach head coach Simon Heyward said. “We usually start slow. I kept them moving, got them going earlier, and we came out with better juice.”
After halftime, the third quarter wasn’t pretty. Both teams turned it over and over again, missing putback baskets, but Beach did just enough to stretch the lead. By the end of three, the Bulldogs were up by thirteen, 39–26.
Islands didn't let up in the fourth. They kept attacking the boards and made some big shots. Each time they made a run, though, Beach answered, preventing any momentum shift.
At that key stage, Bulldog Jordan Newton stepped up.
Scoring eight of his 21 game high points in the fourth, Newton hit two crucial late free throws when the Sharks had to foul. By controlling the moment, he helped Beach close it out.
Beach’s Jordan Newton elevates for a shot in traffic against Islands during Friday night’s GHSA Class 3A, Region 3 game. (Photo by Prep Sports Report)
“Turnovers were the difference,” Heyward said. “We cleaned it up in the second half and took care of the ball. Our guards handled the pressure and did what we asked.”
Islands' head coach Jacob Inness pointed to the physical side of the game.
“They beat us on the boards,” Inness said. “We didn’t hit first or create space. They set the tone early and got into their pressure.”
Inness said the message moving forward is simple.
“We’ve got to decide if we’re willing to play tough,” he said. “The talent is there. The question is toughness and physicality.”
Heyward knows the region's race is far from over.
“This region is wide open,” he said. “Any night, anybody can win. We just have to keep doing our job to get the wins.”
Beach is 4–2 in region play and 9–7 overall. Islands is 3–2 in the region and 8–8 overall. The Region 3A playoff race will be every night for every team till the end of the season.
|
Beach 56, Islands 44 |
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| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| Islands | 12 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 44 |
| Beach | 14 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 56 |
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ISLANDS 44 |
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Seven Washington 4, DJ Hills 18, Shakur Washington 2, Walls 5, Sims 2, Shipley 9, Cooler 4 |
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| BEACH 56 | |||||
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Liddell 7, Jordan Lambert 10, Ancrum 7, Jordan Newton 21, Grant 2, All-Brwon 1, Jenkins 8 |
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Records—Beach 4-2,9-7; Islands 3-2, 8-8 |
Savannah High School Basketball Scoreboard
Friday Night Final Scores
Friday, Jan. 9, 2026
GIRLS
Colquitt County 42, Richmond Hill 31
Greenbrier 66, Effingham County 21
St. Vincent’s 51, Toombs County 41
Beach 70, Islands 5
Windsor Forest 64, Southeast Bulloch 18
Portal 50, Savannah 33
St. Andrew’s 41, Pinewood Christian 38
Bryan County 67, Claxton 38
Savannah Athletic Assoc. 68, Bible Baptist Christian 29
Swainsboro 60, Savannah Country Day 40
Groves 40, Liberty County 26
Bradwell Institute 74, Calvary Day 8
Woodville-Tompkins 60, Savannah Christian 20
BOYS
Bethesda Academy 59, Thomas Heyward Academy 29
Warner Robins 54, Benedictine 45
Colquitt County 44, Richmond Hill 42
Wayne County 67, New Hampstead 49
Greenbrier 80, Effingham County 67
FPCA 77, Savannah Classical Academy 51
Coastal HomeSchool (22-1) at Veritas Academy (1-8), 7 p.m.
Windsor Forest 68, Southeast Bulloch 61
St. Andrew’s 68, Pinewood Christian 21
Calvary Day 66, Bradwell Institute 63
Beach 56, Islands 44
Liberty County 63, Groves 39
Bryan County 65, Claxton 55
Savannah 60, Portal 54
Savannah Christian 46, Woodville-Tompkins 37
Swainsboro 66, Savannah Country Day 60
Bible Baptist Christian 68, Savannah Athletic Assoc. 60
Photo Credit: Courtesy Prep Sports Report
Follow the Prep Sports Report on X @PrepSav and Instagram @savannahsportsreport.
To share scores, stories, or corrections, email kdemasi@prepsportsreport.com or text 912-507-9158.
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