PREP NOTEBOOK: Brandon Moore stepping up big for Worth County

While Worth County High School center Anfernee McLemore gets most of the attention, teammate Brandon Moore’s role on the team shouldn’t go unnoticed.

The 6-foot-5 forward and Herald Super 6er has put up impressive numbers while forming a formidable duo with his close friend.

Last season, Moore averaged 19.5 points and nearly 10 rebounds a game. The senior stepped up big Saturday night when the Rams defeated Dougherty 66-63.

“My job is to bring the energy,” Moore said. “I feel like I’m the hype guy. I enjoy it. I feel like my team can rely on me to score during crunch time.”

McLemore found himself in foul trouble and was confined to the bench for the majority of the third quarter, but Moore kept the Rams around. He scored the team’s final seven points of the quarter and 11 in the third quarter alone.

“He brings leadership and that toughness that we need,” Worth coach Roney Mays said. “I feel like every team has to have a guy with a tough mindset when things are going wrong. He brings great leadership to our basketball team. He does that game in and game out. He is one of our vocal leaders.”

When the two are on court at the same time, they make for a tough matchup. In Tuesday’s victory over Colquitt County, Moore finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds while McLemore had 13 points and 17 rebounds.

Mays emphasized the importance of all his players being able to step up when the team needs them.

“We talk about it all the time,” Mays said. “I tell them all the time at practice. You never know what you are going to need. You never know when someone will be in foul trouble or foul out of the game. We all have to contribute.”

The Rams had five players score in double digits in their victory over Dougherty. They will play host to Monroe Friday night in a key Region 1-AAAA game.

Monroe heating up

The Tornadoes’ 63-40 victory over Westover was their third straight win Tuesday night and kept them atop the Region 1-AAAA standings. All three wins during their streak have been by double digits.

Monroe used a 25-point fourth quarter to put the Patriots away. The high-scoring final quarter was a big change from the third quarter when Westover took a brief lead.

Monroe coach Marquis Davis was pleased with his team’s all-around effort Tuesday night.

“I thought everybody played well,” he said. “Our starters got us off to a good start and our bench guys came up and gave us just what we were looking for.”

Monroe has lost only four games this season with two of them being to Tallahassee (Fla.) schools just after Thanksgiving.

This and That

Westover was without the services of big man Jacobi Cratic on Tuesday night. The Patriots lost to Monroe 63-40. Cratic finished with 15 rebounds for Westover in their victory over Dougherty last Friday. … The Monroe boys have beaten all three of the Dougherty County schools at least once. The Tornadoes’ win over Westover marked the second time they have beaten them this year. … After winning four games in a row, the Dougherty boys have lost the last three.