The Savannah High Bluejackets kept up the winning ways on Saturday in the Savannah Holiday Classic Washington Square championship game played at New Hampstead High School. Savannah High (8-3) knocked off Jenkins, 65-49, for its third win in as many days in the Classic. SHS trailed 11-7 after one quarter, but its best players rose to the occasion when called upon, and a foursome of scorers helped to get it done.
After scoring 17 points on Friday night, senior point guard Amarion Watson scored 16 on Saturday, and sophomore Maki Joyner added 15 points alongside.
Junior Jermaine Edwards and sophomore Shone Ruth each tallied 13 points to round out the leaders of Tim Jordan’s streaking squad. Eight of Ruth’s 13 points came in the fourth quarter.
Jenkins (5-4) was paced by Troy Smith’s 19 points and 14 from Jeremiah James. The game was altered at the free-throw line. HVJ shot 6-of-15 (40%) from the charity stripe and SHS finished 15-of-18 (83%).
Savannah High gets back to action on December 20 in a non-region game against Islands. Jenkins heads south to Florida for a three-game tournament on December 28-30.
SHS – 07 - 16 - 26 - 16 – 65
HVJ – 11 - 08 - 19 - 11 – 49
HALF: SHS, 23-19.
RECORDS: SHS 8-3; HVJ 5-4.
JOHNSON 71, GROVES 53
Johnson jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead against the Rebels in the Crawford Square Championship game played at New Hampstead. The Class 3A No. 3 Atom Smashers (9-2) never trailed and never looked back, playing a complete game in front of a big crowd in the last of 14 finale games in the Savannah Holiday Classic.
Chuck Campbell’s team won three straight in the Holiday Classic and they’ve now won six of seven overall.
Antonio Baker scored 27 points and was named the Most Valuable Player for the bracket afterwards. Malachi Robinson scored 19 points and grabbed 20 rebounds while Josh Quarterman added 15 for Johnson. Baker’s dish to Robinson for an easy lay-up came with 6:02 left in the fourth quarter, and it gave Johnson a 20-point advantage at 64-44.
Baker (eight points) and Robinson (seven) scored all of Johnson’s fourth-quarter points.
Over the three-day tournament, Baker averaged 27 points and 7.3 rebounds. Robinson averaged 14.6 and 13 boards.
Kenye Williams led Groves (6-5) with 13 points. Ty Chisholm added 11.
The two teams will play twice during the region 3-3A regular season this season. Groves visits Johnson on January 17 before the Rebels host Johnson for the regular season finale on February 10.
SCJ – 20 - 19 - 17 - 15 – 71
GHS – 15 - 15 - 12 - 11 – 53
HALF: SCJ, 39-30.
RECORDS: SCJ 9-2; GHS 6-5.
BEACH 46, HILTON HEAD PREP 42
The No. 4 team in Class 3A, Beach rebounded from a tough loss to Groves on Friday to win the Crawford Square third-place game against the Dolphins on Saturday afternoon at New Hampstead. Simon Heyward’s Bulldogs (10-1) were led by Shamarrie Hugie from the game’s opening tip.
Hugie finished with 22 points (16 in first half). The senior scored 14 of Beach’s 18 first-quarter points. The Bulldogs were 9-12 (75%) from the free-throw line and 8-10 (80%) in the second half. Chandler Reid and James Tisby scored six points apiece for Beach. James Leach added five.
Hilton Head Prep (4-4) finishes fourth in Crawford Square, but the Dolphins leave Savannah with a top-10 GHSA victory to their credit after knocking off 3A No. 7 Calvary Day on Thursday night.
WINDSOR FOREST 61, SLAM-TAMPA 60
The Knights led 25-18 after one quarter but were outscored in every quarter after that in the Crawford Square fifth-place game played at Jenkins High School. WF (7-3) was able to convert its early lead into a win over the Spartans from Tampa.
Qurahn Anderson scored 17 points to lead Windsor. Larry Pounds and Sean Cabellero added 12 points apiece. The No. 9 team in Class 2A entering the weekend, Windsor plays next in a three-game tournament in Florida on December 27-29.
WFHS – 25 - 10 - 14 - 12 – 61
SLAM – 18 - 11 - 15 - 16 – 60
HALF: WFHS, 35-29.
RECORDS: WFHS 7-3; SLAM 3-7.
STATESBORO 66, SOUTH EFFINGHAM 46
A trio of Statesboro double-digit scorers guided the Blue Devils to a win in the Washington Square fifth-place game played at Jenkins. Leslie Black scored a game-high 21 points to lead Statesboro (5-2). James Flagg tallied 14 and Kamron Mikell 11.
South Effingham (6-5) got 11 points from Devin Hallman and 10 from Drew McMillen. Rakeam Williams chipped in eight points while Isaiah Campbell and Jaylen Holmes each added six for Rico Campbell’s club, which was missing three players.
SEF – 11 - 10 - 12 - 13 – 46
SHS – 17 - 14 - 15 - 20 – 66
HALF: SHS, 31-21.
ST. ANDREW’S 72, HIRAM 66
CANTON – Senior star Zyere Edwards scored 43 points to lead the Lions over GHSA Class 5A No. 3 Hiram at Sequoyah High School’s War Lodge Invitational.
St. Andrew’s (9-0) is the reigning GIAA 3A State Champion, and the Lions have won 23 consecutive games dating back to last season. The Lions have not lost a game to a team from the state of Georgia since December 11, 2021. Edwards is averaging 23.2 points through nine games. His younger brother, sophomore Zayden Edwards, posted a double-double on Saturday with 12 points and 12 boards.
SAS – 20 - 13 - 12 - 27 – 72
HHS – 10 - 14 - 21 - 21 – 66
HALF: SAS, 33-24.
GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP - Savannah Holiday Classic Olgelthorpe Square championship
HILTON HEAD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 58, STATESBORO 56
The game went down to the wire for the Savannah Holiday Classic Oglethorpe Square championship. Four-time straight defending South Carolina Independent School Association, Hilton Head Christian Academy Lady Eagles (11-0) defeated the Statesboro Lady Blue Jackets (6-3) 58-56.
Tamya Hutchinson led the way for the Lady Eagles scoring 26 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Abby Peduzzi had a double-double with 13 points and ten rebounds. Morgan Scott chipped in nine points and nine rebounds.
Alyssa Staten led the way for the Lady Blue Devils with a double-double, scoring 24 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Ashari Washington had 16 points and seven rebounds, and Reya Johnson scored 10 points, eight rebounds, six steals, and two assists.
FINAL SCORES
BOYS SCORES
Calvary Day 50, McIntosh County Academy 37
Benedictine 59, Islands 54
Beach 46, Hilton Head Prep 42
Savannah High 65, Jenkins 49
St. Andrew’s 71, Hiram 66
New Hampstead 81, Woodville-Tompkins 62
Memorial Day 68, Southside Christian 48
Statesboro 66, South Effingham 46
Johnson 71, Groves 53
Windsor Forest 61, SLAM-Tampa 60
Memorial Day 68, Southside Christian 48
Effingham 46, Southeast Bulloch 36
GIRLS SCORES
Beach 57, Jenkins 53
Woodville - Tompkins 59, Calvary Day 46
St. Andrew’s 41, Savannah Christian 37
Hilton Head Christian Academy 58, Statesboro 56
Richmond Hill 54, Hilton Head Island 41
New Hampstead 52, Islands 45
FOLLOW Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
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.
-3.jpg)
