Sumter County sweeps Albany Middle

ALBANY — A slam dunk is rare enough in middle school basketball. Timothy Battle’s put Sumter County ahead for the first time Thursday. The Panthers did something even rarer after halftime. They held Albany Middle without a point.

Battle, a 6-foot-6 eighth grader, led the Panthers with 12 points in a 39-15 win in Deep South Conference play. The Lady Panthers took the opener 28-18, giving Sumter County a sweep on a night when both teams made life difficult for Albany Middle with their defense.

The Indians had the better start in the boys game, jumping out to an 8-2 lead. Then Sumter County’s full-court press started to bite. The Panthers forced turnovers and got within 10-8 by the end of the first quarter. When Battle slipped free inside and threw down a dunk, Sumter County led 12-10.

Albany Middle pulled even at 15 by halftime. The Indians stayed at 15 the rest of the night.

Sumter County scored all 24 points in the second half. Braylen Williams and Kingston Allen led Albany Middle with five points apiece.

In the girls game, Sumter County’s defense took hold much earlier. The Lady Panthers forced turnovers before Albany Middle could get shots up and took a 17-6 lead into halftime. They pushed it to 22-7 in the third quarter before Nh’Zaiya Anderson swished a 3-pointer for the Lady Indians.

Rishonda Butler gave Albany Middle a spark in the fourth, scoring three baskets as the Lady Indians outscored Sumter County 8-6 in the quarter. By then, the Lady Panthers had built a lead big enough to weather the rally.