Groves is putting together its best boys basketball season in recent memory this season, and on Friday night, the Rebels kept the momentum going in the Region 3-3A championship game played at the home of Class 3A No. 2 Windsor Forest. Groves fought past the Knights by a score of 50-44, winning the program’s first region championship since 2010 and erasing a lengthy losing streak to perennial power Windsor.
The Rebels (16-5) had lost 13 consecutive games to Windsor Forest with their last win coming back on November 21, 2014. Current Groves coach Kevin Evans had never led his squad to a win over their southside rivals.
Guard Tremaine Johnson scored 13 first half points as Groves jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead to open the game and the Knights (19-5) didn’t score their first bucket until 1:25 remained in the first quarter. Showing poise after a rough start, Windsor closed the quarter with a flurry to trail by just five, 13-8 through eight minutes of play. It was 19-18 in favor of the Rebels at halftime.
With the game tied at 44-44 and 55 seconds remaining, Johnson stepped to the free-throw line for two attempts from the charity stripe. He sank both, and Groves never relinquished the lead.
Johnson finished with a game-high 21 points and senior center Jerald Colonel had eight blocks and 12 rebounds to dominate in the paint. JaQuawn Singleton added 13 points and 11 rebounds for GHS.
Windsor’s region Player of the Year, and Georgetown-bound forward, D’ante Bass was held to just eight points while Qurahn Anderson led WF with 11.
Entering the state playoffs next week, Groves hosts the loser of Friday’s Pierce County/Brantley County game while Windsor will host the winner.
GHS – 13 - 6 - 15 - 16 – 50
WF – 8 - 10 - 14 - 12 – 44
HALF: GHS 19-18.
RECORDS: GHS 16-5; WF 19-5.
NEXT: GHS vs. Region 1 four-seed in Class 3A state playoffs first round (2/22 or 2/23); WF vs. Region 1 three-seed in Class 3A state playoffs first round (2/22 or 2/23).
REGION 3-3A THIRD PLACE
JOHNSON 48, BEACH 45
Johnson (15-10) was led by senior Ted Hurst’s 17 points and 15 rebounds in the region tournament’s third place game played at Beach and the Atomsmashers earned a three-seed for the Class 3A state playoffs beginning next week. SCJ will play at the loser of Friday night’s Tattnall County/Long County game while the Bulldogs (13-8) travel to the winner of that Region 1-3A title game.
Junior Antonio Baker scored 12 points for Johnson to help edge his team past Beach.
The Bulldogs have lost six games by four points or fewer this season. They were led on Friday by junior Shamarrie Hugie who scored 10 points in the fourth quarter and a game-high 18 in total while sophomore Larry Johnson scored 11 of his 15 points in the first half.
SCJ – 11 - 14 - 12 - 11 – 48
BHS – 9 - 8 - 10 - 18 – 45
HALF: SCJ, 25-17.
RECORDS: SCJ 15-10; BHS 13-8.
NEXT: SCJ at Region 1 three-seed (2/22 or 2/23); BHS at Region 1 one-seed (2/22 or 2/23).
REGION 3-4A CHAMPIONSHIP
BENEDICTINE 57, NEW HAMPSTEAD 49
The hosting Cadets exploded in the second quarter of the region title game, outscoring the Phoenix 25-11 in the stanza to take a comfortable 33-22 lead into halftime.
Benedictine (15-6) was led by freshman Caleb Jones and senior Christaan Neely in the championship win. Jones scored 11 points and Neely 10 while senior Jamel Mainer added nine points.
New Hampstead (12-10) won the first and third quarters while tying in the fourth 8-8. But, the Phoenix couldn’t overcome an 11-point halftime deficit despite turning up the pace for much of the second half. NHHS was paced by Toriano Bias’ 12 points and Toland Daughtry’s 11 (seven in first quarter).
The Cadets play host to Cairo next week in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs and New Hampstead hosts Dougherty. If BC wins its opening playoff game (2/22 or 2/23), the Cadets and head coach Frank Williams will host a second round playoff game next weekend.
NHS – 11 - 11 - 19 - 8 – 49
BEN – 8 - 25 - 16 - 8 – 57
HALF: BC, 33-22.
RECORDS: NHS 12-10; BEN 15-6.
NEXT: NHS vs. Dougherty in Class 4A first round (2/22 or 2/23); BEN vs Cairo in Class 4A first round (2/22 or 2/23).
REGION 3-4A THIRD PLACE
JENKINS 61, ISLANDS 49
The Warriors (7-12) snapped their five-game losing streak with the victory over Islands (6-16) in the region’s third place game played at Benedictine. Jenkins led 28-16 at halftime and held serve in the second half to clinch the region’s No. 3 seed in next week’s Class 4A state playoffs.
Jenkins will play its first round state playoff game at Class 4A No. 2 Monroe (22-3) while Islands will travel to Albany to play No. 3 ranked Westover (21-3).
HVJ – 14 - 14 - 12 - 21 – 61
IHS – 7 - 9 - 12 - 21 – 49
HALF: HVJ 28-16.
RECORDS: HVJ 7-12; IHS 6-16.
NEXT: HVJ at Monroe in Class 4A state playoffs first round (2/22 or 2/23); IHS at Westover in Class 4A state playoffs first round (2/22 or 2/23).
Photo credit - DwaShawn the Photographer
Follow Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
