Senior guard Troy Smith had a repetitive one-word answer for his team’s 78-66 victory over Dougherty in a state Division II Class 3A elite eight playoff game Wednesday night.
“Defense,” he beamed. “You have to play good defense. That’s how we win.”
And the Knights did just that.
Windsor Forest, winner of 11 straight, broke open a tight 65-61 battle in the game’s final three minutes by anticipating and intercepting Dougherty’s passes and turning the majority of them into breakaway layups.
Smith began the late assault when they hit a jumper in the paint that gave Windsor Forest a 67-61 lead with just over three minutes left, and that began a final 11-5 spurt that sealed the game.
With the win, Windsor Forest advances to the Final Four to meet Sandy Creek at Fort Valley State University Friday at 3 p.m. The Knights made the same trip two years ago.
Along with his defense that gave him steals, Smith tallied nine of his 21 points in the final quarter. It was a second half that ad five ties and Windsor Forest couldn’t build more than a four-point lead over a relentless Dougherty squad.
Senior forward Sean Cabellero led Windsor Forest with 25 points -13 of the team’s 22 in the first quarter - and fellow senior Landon Page added 11.
Kaleke Singletary-Jinks led Dougherty with 16 pints, and Jawaun Jinks added 13. The Trojans led in the quarter, but they trailed 36-30 at the half. Dougherty took the lone lead in the second quarter at 26-25 with just under five minutes remaining before halftime.
Cabellero also saw the Knights’ defense as a key down the stretch as well as connecting with the chemistry that has carried them throughout the season.
“We just wore them down,” said Cabellero. “At the start of the game, we struggled a bit. But we found ourselves as a team, and we played smart.”
Cabellero played on the semifinal team two years ago, but he sees a different type of bond this time around.
“This team is different,” he stressed. “Everybody loves each other, and everybody plays for each other. We share the basketball well, and everybody wins at the end of the day. It doesn’t matter at all who we play. We just have to keep doing what we do.
“It was a tough loss two years ago, and I want to do what I can to finish off my journey.”
Smith also cherished the moment and rekindled an earlier key moment in his career.
“This feel great,” added Smith. “We have worked to get to this point and beyond all season. I remember getting to the championship of a tournament when I was six, and this means as much.”
Head coach Aaron Clark stated that his team was focused on limiting Singletary-Jinks, who had just four points after scoring 11 of his team’s 17 first-quarter points.
Davious Johnson was a force down low for the Trojans, as he scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds.
It also was an added special moment for Clark getting his first victory over a former Savannah High star on their 1998 state championship team as well as a successful head girls’ basketball coach at Jenkins.
“We didn’t want 13 (Singletary-Jinks) to get the ball,” said Clark. “He is their engine, and a great, great player. We tried to contain him all night with multiple people. We didn’t see (Johnson) on the film, but he did a great job for them. They are a well-coached team, and this was the first time that I beat coach (Bakari) Bryant. Coach Bryant is like royalty around here.”
Clark also recognized Smith and Cabellero for his all-around play on the evening.
“He has a great motor, and he’s really the architect out there,” noted Clark about Smith. “He gets emotional, and he cries after the game. He plays hard all the time, and that’s something I never have to worry about.
“Sean is playing the best ball he had played all year, and he picked the best time to play it. Sean got hurt as a freshman and he’s battled through some injuries. He’s getting the chance to show what he’s got, and he’s been awesome.”
Clark stated that his current group has succeeded due to their strong sense of unity.
“Over the years, teams have had their own personality,” said Clark. “These guys really like to hang out together, and it’s about togetherness with them. They never miss practice and they always want to work. They are a real team.”
WINDSOR FOREST 78, DOUGHERTY 66
DOUGHERTY (66)
Jinks 5-2-2-13, Heath 3-2-2-11, Burges 1-0-0-2, Griffin 1-2-2-4, Singletary-Jinks 6-4-6-16, Perkins 0-0-0-0, Collins 0-0-0-0, Kitchen 1-0-0-3, Hallman 3-1-4-8, Johnson 4-1-3-9. TOTALS 24-12-19-66
WINDSOR-FOREST (78)
Manning 3-2-5-8, Page 5-1-1-11, Cabellero 8-9-12-25, Smith 8-3-7-21, Baker 0-1-2-1, Mack 3-4-6-10, Robertson 1-0-0-2. TOTALS 25-20-33-78
Three-pointers: Dougherty -Heath 3, Kitchen 1, Jinks 1, Hallman 1; Windsor-Forest: Smith 2
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| DOUGHERTY | 17 | 13 | 21 | 15 | 66 |
| WINDSOR FOREST | 22 | 14 | 17 | 25 | 78 |
| RECORDS - Windsor 25-5, Douglass 19-11 |
High School Basketball Final Scores for Wednesday, Feb. 26
Elite Eight
GHSA Class A Division II – Boys (Elite Eight)
Savannah High 69, Early County 42
McIntosh County 60, Mitchell County 32
Greene County 52, Bryan County 49
GHSA Class AAA - Boys (Elite Eight)
Windsor Forest 78, Dougherty 66
GIAA Class AAA - Boys (Semi-finals)
St. Andrew's 45, Lakeview Academy 43
PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy lPrep Sports Report
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