Savannah High boys basketball coach George Brown stressed at halftime for his team to make better use of 6-foot-8 center Deshawn Davis, a shot-blocking and rebounding standout who had just three points – all on free throws.
The host Blue Jackets were in a one-possession game with Early County on Wednesday night in the GHSA Class A Division II quarterfinals.
“I was telling them, ‘Look for the tallest guy on the floor. Let’s see what he can do for us. Let’s see what we can do in order for us to be successful,’ ” Brown said after the game.
Savannah High turned to Davis, who, on the first two possessions of the second half, scored inside and then converted a three-point play to jumpstart the offense. Davis tallied 11 points as the Blue Jackets stretched a two-point edge to as many as 22 in the third quarter en route to a 69-42 victory over the Bobcats of Blakely.
The Blue Jackets (25-4) make their second consecutive appearance in the state semifinals and will face Warren County (21-9) at 3 p.m. Friday at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville. Warren County of Warrenton defeated Hawkinsville 46-37 on Wednesday.
The other half of the Final Four is Greene County versus McIntosh County Academy, which shares Region 3-A DII with Savannah High. The Blue Jackets won two of three games this season with MCA, including the region tournament crown.
Brown, in his second season as Savannah High’s head coach, noted the short time between Wednesday night’s victory – its 14 in a row – and Friday’s daytime semifinal.
“Our guys are going to able to battle and be tested because our schedule’s been tough all year,” Brown said. “We’ve been playing a lot of games, quick turnarounds, so, hopefully, everything works in our favor.”
Savannah High has been focused this season on a state title run after falling to Paideia 56-39 in the 2024 semifinal – played without star Maki Joyner, then a junior, who sprained his ankle in the quarterfinals.
Currently ranked No. 1 in the state for their division in Sandysspiel.com, the Blue Jackets cruised to victories over Wilcox County (75-39) and Manchester (65-49) in the first two playoff rounds.
None of that mattered to Early County (now 19-11), which jumped out front 7-0 and led 9-3 behind leading scorer Jabril Lindsey, who finished with a game-high 19 points.
Joyner, the two-time region player of the year, picked up a foul in the first minute but was one of five different Blue Jackets to score as they rallied to take an 18-14 lead after one quarter.
“(The Bobcats) were playing extremely hard,” Brown said. “But our guys weathered the test. I’ve got to find a way to get us to start (faster) -- we’re starting so slow. We did what we needed to do in order to be successful and win the game, and that’s what matters.”
The contest remained tight through two quarters, and so did the officiating, as several players on both sides got in early foul trouble. Joyner was called for his second foul with 6:05 left in the second quarter and came out of the game.
Joyner’s third foul came with 5:28 remaining in the third quarter when he tried to intercept a pass. He went to the bench for the rest of the period.
The Blue Jackets were already rolling at that point. After Davis’ five-point flurry, Chance Hendrix made a fast-break layup for a 37-28 advantage. Davis grabbed an offensive rebound and put back his miss as Lindsey was called for his fourth foul with 4:41 on the clock. Davis converted the three-point play, and the Bobcats called a timeout down 12 points.
Davis responded to an Early County basket by gathering in a pass in the lane, then electrified the partisan crowd by swishing a hook shot and the ensuing free throw for a 43-30 lead.
“My teammates kept passing it to me,” Davis said. “I trust my teammates to make the right passes and all that. I love my teammates.”
Point guard Jermontae Brown, who led SHS with 16 points, stole the ball and was fouled on the fast break. He sank both foul shots, as did teammate Zy Smart. Martavious Rice made a steal and assisted on another basket for a 52-30 lead with 1:24 left in the third.
“We have a team, we don’t just have Maki (Joyner),” George Brown said. “We have Zy Smart, Shone Ruth, Deshawn Davis – who had a heck of a game. If anybody’s sleeping on his offensive potential, they shouldn’t any more. Jermontae Brown, Chance Hendricks, everybody stepped in and played a vital role. Martavius Rice, the sophomore, played a very, very big role for us. So we can’t be anything but thankful for the kids we have. I’m coaching a team, not just a player.”
Davis, who was called for his fourth foul with 3:41 left in regulation, said defense was the key to the Blue Jackets’ 22-7 domination in the third quarter.
Their 17-point advantage going into the fourth allowed them to spread out on offense, be patient, and chew up the clock. They still outscored the Bobcats 17-7.
George Brown credited Savannah High’s retired coaching legend Tim Jordan, who happened to be standing near him on Wednesday night as he was interviewed.
“(Jordan) taught me some pretty good stall tactics,” Brown said. “I just use it to our advantage.”
Jermontae Brown’s 16 points and Davis’ 14 were followed by Smart with 10 and Joyner and Hendricks with eight apiece.
“It was different kind of game, but it also showed me that things that we’re teaching our guys are working,” George Brown said, noting the early deficit. “I’m just glad our guys weathered the storm and did what they needed to do in order to be successful.”
SAVANNAH HIGH 69, EARLY COUNTY 42
EARLY COUNTY (42)
Tinson 4, Jabril Lindsey 19, Willilams 9, Jones 3, Parham 4, D. Lindsey 3.
SAVANNAH HIGH (69)
Joyner 8, Hendricks 8, Jermontae Brown 16, Ruth 2, Fox 2, Deshawn Davis 14, Zy Smart 10, Hall 3, Wright 2, Rice 4.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| EARLY COUNTY | 14 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
| SAVANNAH HIGH | 18 | 12 | 22 | 17 | 69 |
|
Records - Early County 19-11, Savannah High 25-4. |
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 luubie_shots Photography
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