Ranked No. 7 in Class A-Division I this week, Savannah High started slow but quickly got things going in a region 3-A Division I game against Bryan County on Friday, January 13 at the Ron Love Athletic Center. Savannah High secured the victory by a score of 68-40. It was the fourth straight win for the Bluejackets, who have now won 10 of their last 11.
It was the second and final meeting of the regular season between the Redskins and Bluejackets. Savannah High (14-4, 5-1 region 3-A Division I) previously beat Bryan County, 49-44, in Pembroke on December 2. With 14 wins already, Savannah High is in the midst of its best season since 2014-15 when it finished 19-11.
On Friday, SHS showed why it could be a force to contend with in 2022-23.
Bryan County (5-10, 3-3) began the game defensively in a 2-3 zone, forcing perimeter shots from Savannah High throughout the first quarter. The strategy worked, at first. Bryan led The High 9-3 with 3:36 left in the opening stanza and SHS did not make a three-point shot until its sixth attempt from beyond the arc in the first quarter. That make, courtesy of Leonard McCann, came with less than five seconds remaining in the first.
Offensive rebounding and slashing jump-started a Savannah High run to close out the first quarter, as the hosts led 15-9 through eight minutes. But the furious Savannah High scoring run didn’t stop once the second quarter began. After trailing 9-3, the Bluejackets ripped off 22 consecutive points before allowing another Bryan bucket, and they held a commanding 25-11 lead midway through the second.
Jermontae Brown’s three-pointer in the final seconds of the first half gave head coach Tim Jordan’s Savannah High squad a 33-17 halftime lead. The Bluejackets led 46-27 through three and Jordan’s starters were removed from the game midway through the fourth, with the score 57-32.
Maki Joyner led all scorers with 23 points for SHS. He made 11 two-pointers and a free throw. Jordan’s club had 11 different players score in the game. The Bluejackets made five 3’s, with five players making one each. Brown scored nine points, as did Amarion Watson and Jermaine Edwards scored six of his seven points in the second half.
SHS finished 10-19 from the free-throw line while Bryan County was just 5-11. Jamal Campbell scored 10 points to lead the Redskins. Elijah Mincey chipped in eight.
Savannah High plays in Jacksonville on Saturday versus Andrew Jackson. After that, the Bluejackets prepare to play a critical road game at region-leader Woodville-Tompkins on Friday, January 20.
BRY – 09 - 08 - 10 - 13 – 40
SHS – 15 - 18 - 13 - 22 – 68
HALF: SHS, 33-17.
RECORDS: BRY 5-10, 3-3 Region 3-A DI; SHS 14-4, 5-1 Region 3-A DI.
NEXT: SHS at Andrew Jackson (FL) on Jan. 14 & at Woodville-Tompkins on Jan. 20.
FRIDAY SCORES
Savannah High 68, Bryan County 40
Calvary Day 66, Savannah Country Day 40
Johnson 63, Liberty County 33
St. Andrew’s 75, John Paul II 24
Woodville-Tompkins 64, Claxton 19
Benedictine 68, SE Bulloch 48
New Hamstead 74, Burke County 72
Groves 66, Savannah Christian 48
Windsor Forest 61, Toombs County 57
Bethesda Academy 63, Colleton Prep Academy 32
Beach 55, Long County 43
Wayne County 60, Islands 45
Grovetown 60, Effingham County 53
Lowndes 56, Richmond Hill 28
FRIDAY GIRL’S SCORES
Woodville Tompkins 49, Claxton 30
Bryan County 48, Savannah High 37
Toombs County 55, Windsor Forest 44
Liberty County 72, Johnson 37
Savannah Christian 50, Groves 30
Calvary 69, Savannah Country Day 45
Long County 59, Beach 29
Wayne County 33, Island 19
Burke County 50, New Hampstead 25
Grovetown 57, Effingham17
Lowndes @ Richmond Hill
John Paul II 49, St. Andrews 22
PHOTO CREDIT: Jaudon Sports
FOLLOW Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudo@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.
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