U-SAVE IT CLASSIC: Focused Westover beats Statesboro

ALBANY — A night after suffering a double-digit loss to South Cobb, Westover came out on a mission Tuesday in the U-Save It Classic Christmas Tournament at Albany High School.

After blowing a halftime lead Monday night, the Patriots beat Statesboro, one of the strongest teams in the tournament 50-43.

The game got off to a slow start with the teams combining for just 17 points in the first quarter. Jordan Brown scored six of the Patriots’ first 10 points. The freshman finished the game with 10 points.

A faster paced second quarter saw Westover get outscored 12-11, but the Patriots were up 22-20 at the half.

“I was interested to see how we would come out after yesterday,” Westover coach Dallis Smith said. “Yesterday, we had a lead and came out in the third quarter flat. I thought tonight we came out with a little more energy.”

Westover led by eight points with just a minute left in the third quarter, but Statesboro cut the lead to 36-33 by the end of the quarter. The Blue Devils hit a free throw early in the fourth quarter to make the score 36-34. That was the closest Statesboro would come to making a comeback.

“We switched up on them and went from man to our two defense which is a matchup man,” Smith said. “I think that kind of gave (Statesboro) a problem.”

The Patriots eventually put the game away when Brown hit two late free throws with under one minute left in the game.

The victory is Westover’s second of the U-Save-It Classic. They beat Manchester on Saturday night on the strength of a 21-point performance by Brown.

Statesboro received 10 points apiece from Miles White and Michael Salomon. Cameron Harvey led the Blue Devils with 13 points.

Westover was led by Jamarea’ Grier who finished with 13 points. Grier hit three treys in the game.

“We needed it badly,” Smith said. “Because we blew a big lead yesterday and got outscored 26-5. You just can’t have that happen. I thought tonight we were more focused.”