Zayden Edwards didn’t see his 3-point shot fall Tuesday night – until it mattered the most.
The St. Andrew’s junior guard sank his only triple about three steps past the 3-point line, turning a broken play in the final seconds into a game-winner as the visiting Lions defeated Savannah High 51-50.
St. Andrew’s (19-7) won its 12 straight game and may have quieted some of its critics who think the Wilmington Island private school that plays in the Georgia Independent Athletic Association can’t compete with Savannah's basketball-rich public schools.
“Look at us now. We beat Johnson. We beat Beach, Savannah High. There’s not much people can say now,” Edwards said. “We showed them what we can do.”
Edwards showed what he could do from the jump. He stole the game-opening jump ball from a center five inches taller to set the tone.
And he finished with a game-high 23 points. None were bigger than the last three.
“I went 0-for-something from the 3-point line all game,” Edwards said. “I work on my shot all the time. I just trusted the work I’ve put in all year. I let it fly and I knew it was about time one was going to drop.”
Edwards’ shot didn’t surprise Lions’ coach Mel Abrams.
“He puts the work in,” Abrams said. “He’s a multi-sport athlete. In the fall, when he leaves football workouts and goes to the gym to work on basketball. 6 o’clock in the morning he’s in the gym putting up shots. He puts the work in.”
St. Andrew’s probably quieted its naysayers before Edwards’ winning shot. The Lions led by 13 on two occasions – 35-22 early in the third quarter and again 40-27 with 2:21 left in the third quarter and appeared to be on cruise control.
The Blue Jackets (16-8) struggled to find offense with leading scorer Maki Joyner missing most of the second and third quarters because of the flu.
But two key St. Andrew’s players picked up their fourth fouls in the third quarter and were forced to sit. Savannah High’s defense stiffened and its height advantage took over offensively. Six-foot-5 Jermaine Edwards scored eight straight points in the paint for the Blue Jackets during a 21-6 run to flip the game 180 degrees.
His two free throws with 2:41 left gave SHS its first lead of the game, 48-46.
Jermaine Edwards finished with 14 points. Jermontee Brown led the Jackets with 16.
“We did a halfway decent job playing defense in the second half but we have to play that way the whole game,” Jackets coach George Brown said. “Defense is what’s going to win it for us.
Our guys have to get stronger. Our guys were getting pushed around. We’re supposed to be the one pushing people around.”
At least, that’s what some people would think when Savannah High meets St. Andrew’s.
“People were saying St. Andrew’s wouldn’t play any public schools, but Coach Abrams will take his kids and play anywhere,” Brown said. “They’re well-coached. They run their stuff. Nothing but class from them.”
Certainly, the Lions could have wilted at the end. But Zayden Edwards banked in a short jumper to tie the game 48-48 with 1:10 left.
Shane Ruth drove the lane for a bucket to put the Jackets back in front with 50 seconds remaining.
Savannah High (16-8) missed two free throws with 19.8 second left which could have stretched the lead.
St. Andrew’s final possession didn’t go smoothly. Double-teamed Jaylen Sheppard somehow got the ball in the direction of Edwards, who took his time even though time was ticking.
“We knew they were a scrappy team,” Edwards said. “I grew up watching Savannah High. It was just a matter of time they got going at home. We had to stay calm, cool and collected.”
They did and added another big win over a city public school on their resume.
“I’ve been in Savannah nine years and a lot of these (public-school) programs have been great in the past,” Abrams said. “We have 170 kids in the school. Yeah, it’s a big deal. Over the last few years we’ve proven we can play with the best teams in this area.
“I’m happy how our guys stuck with it. I don’t think we played our best game but we found a way to get it done.”
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | ||
| St. Andrew's | 13 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 51 | |
| Savannah High | 11 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 50 | |
|
St. Andrew's: Zayden Edwards 23 pts. 11 rebs, Thompson 9, Rickert 8, Harrison 4, Baillie 3, Sheppard 2, Williams 2 Savannah High: Jermonte Brown 16, Jermaine Edwards 12, Fox 6, Joyner 6, Davis 4, Ruth 3, Anderson 2, Heyward 1 |
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FINAL SCORES
TUESDAY Feb. 6, 2024
BOYS
Class 7A
Brunswick 68, Richmond Hill 58
Class 6A
Lakeside 56, Effingham 55
Class 5A
Jenkins 48, Bradwell 44
Class 4A
Burke Count 76, Islands 56
Class 3A
Johnson 49, Liberty County 38
Savannah Country Day 58, Calvary 56
Long County 66, Beach 55
Groves 51, Savannah Christian 39
Class 2A
Toombs 65, Windsor Forest 55
NON-Region
St. Andrews 51, Savannah High 50
Woodville Tompkins 73, Hilton Head Christian Academy 64
GIAA
Memorial Day 71, Twiggs Academy 33
GIRLS
TUESDAY Feb. 6, 2024
Class 7A
Richmond Hill 61, Brunswick 49
Class 6A
Lakeside 61, Effingham County 44
Class 5A
Jenkins 51, Bradwell 42
Class 4A
Burke County at Islands (NSR)
Class 3A
Liberty County at Johnson (NSR)
Savannah Country Day 55, Calvary 49
Long County at Beach (NSR)
Savannah Christian 47, Groves 42
Class 2A
Toombs 66, Windsor Forest 49
NON-Region
Woodville Tompkins at Hilton Head Christian Academy (NSR)
Bryan Co, 67. St. Vincent’s 39
GIAA
Twiggs Academy 59, Memorial Day 28
NOTE: NSR- NO SCORE REPORTED
PHOTO Credit: Prep Sports Report
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