A packed house on the campus of Woodville-Tompkins had plenty to cheer about while watching their Wolverines dominate a Savannah High squad which came into the night as the state’s seventh-ranked team. Alfonzo Ross nearly notched his ninth 30-point game of the season, pouring in 29 in a 71-48 blowout victory on Friday, January 20.
It was the fifth straight win for the Wolverines, who now look like they could be finding a formula for sustained success after torching Tim Jordan’s Bluejackets for a second time this season.
That formula? Get Ross the rock. The red-hot senior shooting guard scored 33 points his last time out, and is now averaging 27.9 points per game. He scored nine points in the first quarter, seven in the second, nine in the third and four more in an indecisive fourth.
Woodville (13-8, 8-0 region 3-A Division I) knocked off Savannah High, 69-42, in the first meeting on December 9. Early in the game on Friday night, it looked like the Bluejackets may have corrected whatever plagued them in the first matchup played at The High.
Savannah High (14-6, 5-2) was winning 10-4 with 3:14 left in the first quarter, but the lead was short lived. The Wolverines stormed back over the next 11 minutes of play, outscoring Savannah 29-9 to take a 33-19 lead into halftime. The Wolverines took their biggest lead of the first half, 31-15, with 1:12 remaining in the second quarter and head coach Lenny Williams’ team never looked back.
If Ross played the role of hero, sophomore Jonathon Pickering was a world-class sidekick. He tallied 12 of his 21 points in the fourth and Tyler Grant totaled eight points while Wes Walker added seven.
The Bluejackets could never seem to eliminate self-inflicted mistakes and it may have led to an unusually low shooting percentage. Maki Joyner led them with 11 points, Chance Hendricks scored nine, Shone Ruth seven and Jermontae Brown six. Jermaine Edwards was held in check with just five points.
Woodville holds a commanding lead in the region standings now, and figures to be a lock for a 1-seed in the 3-A Division I playoffs. The Wolverines are two games clear of second place Savannah High and four games up from the third place Bryan County Redskins (6-12, 4-4).
SHS – 10 - 09 - 14 - 15 – 48
WTO – 11 - 22 - 13 - 25 – 71
HALF: WTO, 33-19.
RECORDS: SHS 14-6, 5-2 region 3-A DI; WTO 13-8, 8-0 region 3-A DI.
NO. 2 BEACH 63, NO. 6 CALVARY DAY 56 (OT)
Senior star Shamarrie Hugie scored 25 points, including seven in overtime to lift his No. 2 Bulldogs past the hosting Cavs in front of a sold-out gym that witnessed a region 3-3A game which lived up to the hype.
Calvary led after the first quarter (15-10) and third quarter (43-36). Beach led at halftime (25-23) and tied the game at 50-50 on Hugie’s clutch bucket to send it into overtime.
Beach (16-2, 7-0 Region 3-3A) trailed by 10 points early in the fourth quarter before climbing back into it. James Leach and Chandler Reid scored 10 apiece for Simon Heyward’s team, which enters next week on a five-game winning streak.
The Cavs (12-5, 5-2) proved themselves formidable, taking one of the top teams in the state down to the wire before falling short. C.J. Gaines scored a team-high 19 points, rising to the moment with 16 coming after halftime. Junior forward Mike Smith scored 13 points for Chad Carver’s team.
Calvary enters Saturday in a tie for the region’s two-spot with Class 3A No. 3 Johnson (14-4, 5-2). Each plays region games Saturday with Calvary on the road at Savannah Christian and Johnson hosting Savannah Country Day.
BHS – 10 - 15 - 11 - 14 (13) – 63
CDS – 15 - 08 - 20 - 07 (06) – 56
HALF: BHS, 25-23.
FINAL SCORES Friday 1.13.23
Girl's Games
All scores Girls/Boys Final Scores per MaxPreps
KEY: NSR – no score reported
GHSA A DI Region 3
Bryan County 64, Metter 50
Woodville 54, Savannah High 35
GHSA AA
Tattnall County 57, Windsor Forest 15
GHSA AAA
St. Vincent's 41, Johnson 27
Savannah Country Day 45, Liberty County 28
Long County 65, Groves 7
Calvary 68, Beach 44
GHSA AAAA
Burke County 53, Islands 48
GHSA AAAAA
Ware County 66, Jenkins 13
GHSA AAAAAA
South Effingham 60, Effingham 20
GHSA AAAAAAA
Lowndes 72, Richmond Hill 42
GIAA
Pinewood Christian 30, St. Andrews 28
Robert Toombs Christian Academy 59, Memorial Day 18
BOY'S FINAL SCORES
JANUARY 20, 2023
GHSA A DI Region 3
Bryan County 61, Metter 45
Woodville Tompkins 71, Savannah High 48
GHSA AA
Windsor Forest 87, Tattnall County 85
GHSA AAA
Liberty County 42, Savannah Country Day 29
Groves 64, Long County 56
Beach 63, Calvary 56
GHSA AAAA
Burke County 75, Islands 43
New Hamstead 68, Benedictine 65
GHSA AAAAA
Jenkins 52, Ware County 43
GHSA AAAAAA
Effingham 75, South Effingham 4
GHSA AAAAAAA
Lowndes 55, Richmond Hill 38
GHSA NON-REGION
McIntosh County Academy 70, Savannah Classical 27
GIAA
St. Andrews 82, Pinewood Christian 20
Memorial Day 53, Robert Toombs Christian Academy 45
GAPPS
The Habersham School 64, Trinity Christian 30
SCISA
Bethesday Academy 86, Cross Episcopal 18
Follow Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
PHOTO CREDIT: Jaudon Sports
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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