In Friday’s Savannah Holiday Classic Crawford Square semifinal game with Hilton Head Prep, Johnson was looking to build on its offensive momentum from one night prior when it rode Antonio Baker’s 37-point outburst to a 77-65 win in the first round. Instead, the Dolphins and Atom Smashers played in a defensive struggle that was every bit as exciting as any offensive showcase.
Johnson (8-2) won the game, 47-39, outscoring HHP in the fourth quarter 20-10 to advance into Saturday’s title tilt with region 3-3A rival Groves.
SCJ was slow out of the gates, hitting just one three-pointer in the first half while trailing 21-18 at halftime and 29-27 through three quarters. Each team relied on senior scoring duos.
The Dolphins (4-3) got 18 of their 21 first-half points from Sean Cusano (10) and Kane Evans (8) while the Atom Smashers were paced by their tandem of Baker (8) and Malachi Robinson (5), who produced 13 of their 18 first-half points.
Trailing 29-25 with 3:22 left in the third, Johnson’s 11-2 run over the next four minutes gave it a 36-31 lead with 4:10 left in the fourth. The Dolphins never went away, however. They cut the Johnson lead to just two points three different times over the final three minutes. Timely buckets from Baker (seven 4Q points) and Robinson – who each scored seven in the fourth quarter – gave Johnson its lead and an emphatic late-game dunk from Josh Quarterman iced the victory for head coach Chuck Campbell’s team.
Baker finished with 17 points, six rebounds and six assists while Robinson and Favion Kirkwood each scored 11 for the Class 3A No. 3 Atom Smashers. Kirkwood scored nine of his 11 in the second half and Robinson added seven rebounds. Cusano scored 17 to lead the Dolphins and Evans tallied 12, scoring one bucket in the third quarter and another in the fourth.
Only five players scored for each squad. Johnson hit two 3’s in the second half while HHP made just one after halftime, despite its attempting plenty down the stretch.
Johnson plays in the Crawford Square Championship against Groves on Saturday at New Hampstead. Tip time is set for 7 p.m.
HHP – 09 - 12 - 08 - 10 – 39
SCJ – 07 - 11 - 09 - 20 – 47
HALF: HHP, 21-18.
RECORDS: HHP 4-3; SCJ 8-2.
SAVANNAH HIGH 72, MCINTOSH COUNTY ACADEMY 65
The Bluejackets won the Washington Square semifinal game at Johnson to earn their third straight victory and clinch a spot in Saturday afternoon’s championship game versus Jenkins.
Savannah High (7-3) built a big lead in the second quarter, not allowing MCA to score in the stanza until 2:41 remained. The High held a comfortable 41-21 lead at halftime and led 53-39 through three quarters.
Jermaine Edwards and Maki Joyner led the Bluejackets with 21 and 18 points, respectively. Amarion Watson hit four 3’s (three in the fourth quarter alone) and scored 15 of his 17 points after halftime. MCA (2-4) got 16 points from Isaiah Cagle in the setback.
The score was 71-56 with 1:11 to play when SHS head coach Tim Jordan pulled his starters. MCA closed on a 9-1 run to lessen the margin of defeat. SHS made nine 3’s in total and MCA made eight from beyond the arc.
SHS – 22 - 19 - 12 - 19 – 72
MCA – 15 - 06 - 18 - 26 – 65
HALF: SHS, 41-21.
RECORDS: SHS 7-3; MCA 2-4.
GROVES 53, BEACH 51
The Rebels (6-4) handed the rival Bulldogs their first loss of the season in the Crawford Square semifinal game played at Beach. Class 3A’s No. 4 team entering the weekend, Beach (9-1) never trailed by much, but the Rebels converted a 27-26 halftime lead into a one point victory and moved themselves into Saturday’s Crawford Square championship game against Class 3A No. 3 Johnson.
Only two three-pointers were made in the game – one per team, both coming in the first half.
Leading Groves was Khari Manning (12 points), Ja’Quan Singleton (11) and Ty Chisholm (9). Tyrese Bellamy led Beach with 19 points and James Leach chipped in 12. Star Beach senior Shamarrie Hugie scored a season-low seven points and fouled out in the fourth quarter.
Beach plays in the third-place game at New Hampstead (2:30 p.m.) on Saturday against Hilton Head Prep. Groves and Johnson are set for a 7 p.m. tip at New Hampstead.
BHS – 13 - 13 - 08 - 17 – 51
GHS – 15 - 12 - 13 - 13 – 53
HALF: GHS, 27-26.
RECORDS: BHS 9-1; GHS 6-4.
STATESBORO 56, BENEDICTINE 52
BC (1-2) led 29-20 at halftime of the Washington Square consolation game played at Jenkins. The Blue Devils outscored the Cadets 36-23 after halftime to storm back for the victory.
BC plays Islands at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday while Statesboro plays in the fifth-place game against South Effingham at 4 p.m. also at Jenkins. Both games are region previews as Statesboro and South reside in region 2-6A and Benedictine and Islands play within region 3-4A.
BEN – 14 - 15 - 08 - 15 – 52
SHS – 10 - 10 - 16 - 20 – 56
HALF: BEN, 29-20.
WINDSOR FOREST 59, NEW HAMPSTEAD 56
The Class 2A No. 9 Knights (6-4) knocked off a pesky Phoenix squad in a consolation game of the Crawford Square bracket played at Jenkins.
Windsor Forest plays in the bracket’s fifth-place game on Saturday against SLAM-Tampa. Tip time is 7 p.m. at Jenkins High School. NHHS (1-5) plays Class 1A-DI No. 8 Woodville-Tompkins at 2:30 p.m., also at Jenkins.
WF – 19 - 13 - 13 - 14 – 59
NH – 11 - 12 - 17 - 16 – 56
HALF: WF, 32-23.
RECORDS: WF 6-4; NH 1-5.
JENKINS 46, CALVARY DAY 40
Jenkins (5-3) played a tough brand of basketball to earn a victory over a top-10 team in the state and make its way into the Washington Square championship game versus Savannah High on Saturday at New Hampstead (4 p.m.).
After leading 13-11 through one quarter of play at Beach, Class 3A No. 7 Calvary scored just four second-quarter points to enter halftime trailing 24-17. The two sides matched wits in the third, scoring 10 apiece as Jenkins led 34-27 through three. Troy Smith Jr. made clutch free-throws and helped to lengthen the HVJ lead after the Cavs were trailing by just three points (43-40) with roughly a minute remaining.
Jeremiah James scored 11 points for Jenkins. Smith Jr. and Jalani Simmons notched eight points apiece. Jake Merklinger scored 10 points to pace the Cavs.
Calvary (5-2) plays McIntosh County Academy on Saturday (11:30 a.m.) in the third-place game at New Hampstead.
CDS – 13 - 04 - 10 - 13 – 40
HVJ – 11 - 13 - 10 - 12 – 46
HALF: HVJ, 24-17.
RECORDS: CDS 5-2; HVJ 5-3.
ST. ANDREW'S 66, CENTENNIAL 54
St. Andrew's began the holiday break by traveling to Atlanta to play in the Sequoyah High War Lodge Tournament. The Lions (8-0) came flying out of the gates versus Centennial High School and jumped to a 13-0 lead within the first 2:30 minutes of play. However, not to be thwarted, the Knights (6-4) fought their way back over the next twenty minutes of play to get within one at 47-46 at the end of the third quarter.
However, Zyere Edwards quickly fed Rod Conley a quick layup in the quarter's last play to put the Lions up by 3. Edwards again hit Conley for a layup in the first play of the 4th quarter to give St. Andrew's a cushion they never lost to extend their school record-breaking win streak to 22 games.
Zyere Edwards led all scorers with 29 points while dishing out seven assists. His brother, Zayden, got his third double-double in the last four games by grabbing 11 boards with 10 points. Will Thompson was at it again, hitting three treys en route to 15 points for the game. The Lions look to continue their perfect season when they take on GHSA 5A #3 Hiram on Saturday December 17, 2022.
SAS – 29 - 10 - 10 - 17 – 66
CHS – 13 - 15 - 18 - 08 – 54
HALF: SAS, 39-28.
RECORDS: SA 8-0; CHS 6-4.
FINAL SCORES
BOYS
Groves 53, Beach 51
Memorial Day School 70, Gainsville Christian Community HS 45
Johnson 47, Hill Head Prep 39
Statesboro 56, Benedictine 52
Windsor Forest 59, New Hampstead 56
SLAM-Tampa 77, Woodville-Tompkins 40
Effingham 60, Richmond Hill 42
Saint Andrews 66, Centennial 54
Habersham School 37, John Paul II 32
South Effingham 62, Islands 40
Savannah, High 72, Mcintosh County Academy, 65
Portal 69, Brian County 49
Savannah Country Day 41, Hilton Head, Christian, 39
Beaufort Academy 50, Bethesda Academy 42
FINAL SCORES
GIRLS
Islands 38, Savannah High 31
Hilton Head Christian Academy 68, Woodville-Tompkins 53
Beach 56, Groves 10
Statesboro 76, Calvary Day 50
Bryan County 67, Portal 22
Richmond Hill 49, Effingham County 12
Windsor Forest 33, Jenkins 22
FOLLOW Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
PHOTO CREDIT: Beach social media page
Optim Orthopedics supports Benedictine Military School, Calvary Day School, Richmond Hill High School, Savannah Country Day, South Effingham High School, and St. Vincent's athletics. Benedictine Military School's team doctor is Dr. David Sedory. Dr. David Palmer is the team doctor for Calvary Day School, South Effingham, and Richmond Hill. Savannah Country Day and St. Vincent's team doctor is Dr. Thomas Alexander. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game.
