Windsor Forest stars Shamar Norman and D’Ante Bass met a big moment Wednesday night against visiting Salem in the GHSA State Basketball Playoffs Elite 8 with equally big performances to match.
The duo carried the No. 4 Knights to a 60-57 win. Norman scored 24 points, controlling the point for Windsor (12-3) throughout. An electric athlete with ability to take over any game for stretches, the junior Bass contributed 21 points and Windsor Forest survived a late scare to advance in the bracket and into the Class 3A Final 4.
A 2-seed from Region 3, Windsor will have to travel to 1-seed Cross Creek for a semifinal contest later this week (Friday or Saturday; March 5-6).
Trailing 17-12 through the first eight minutes of action, Windsor opened the second quarter with a flurry, and won the quarter 20-11 to take the lead, 32-28 at the break. Norman and Bass combined to score 17 of the 20 second period points for Windsor and head coach Aaron Clark. They decided to try that second quarter strategy again in the third.
It was a good call. The pair scored 12 of Windsor’s 16 points in the third and the Knights looked to be home free with one to play, leading 48-41. But Salem (20-6) had other ideas, and the WF lead was eventually trimmed down to the narrowest of margins, 58-57 with 20 seconds to play.
Some clutch free throws by Jamario Blige and one last defensive stand iced the victory and undoubtedly pleased Savannah’s Southside contingent.
Under Clark, the Knights have played in one previous Final 4, losing one game shy of the title game played in Macon then, and this year. Windsor is the lone Savannah area team remaining in the GHSA Tournament.
S - 17 - 11 - 13 - 16 -- 57
W -- 12 - 20 -16 - 12 -- 60
RECORDS -- WF 12-3; S 20-4.
Follow Travis on Twitter @JaudonSports. Contact him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
Photo By: Dwashawn the Photographer @sxds_action
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