U-SAVE-IT-CLASSIC ROUNDUP: Westover beats North Clayton in thriller

ALBANY — Jamarea Grier had just about all the time in the world to win the game for Westover.

The sophomore guard pulled up for a 3-pointer with 5.4 seconds left and was fouled, sending him to the line with 0.1 left on the clock and the game tied at 59.

His first shot clanked off the front of the iron, much to the dismay of the crowd. He shook it off and calmly knocked down the second and missed the third intentionally, giving the Patriots the 60-59 lead. North Clayton failed to score and the Patriots escaped with a 60-59 thriller Saturday night in the U-Save-It Classic at Albany High School.

Westover was down double-digits for majority of the game, but fought its way back in the fourth, starting with a three from Alec Williams to make it 54-46 with 6:18 left.

After a Detravious Greene layup with 2:55 left, the Patriots then forced a turnover and Grier was fouled. He hit two free throws, pulling the Patriots within one.

The Blue Devils had possession with 1:27 left and opted to run the clock out. Taiyon Hector’s runner didn’t fall and that set up the Patriots’ final play.

Williams led Westover with 18 points, while Herald Super 6er Jordan Floyd finished with 14 points, 12 of which came from behind the arc.

Westover will play the final game of the tournament Monday at 8:30 p.m. against Colquitt County.

LEE COUNTY BOYS 63, SOUTHEAST BULLOCH 57: Lee County bounced back from Friday night’s loss to Statesboro with a victory over Statesboro’s neighbor — cross-county rival Southeast Bulloch.

After Friday night’s setback, Lee County head coach Kervin Davis said he’d get a chance to see what kind of character his team.

The Trojans bounced back in a major way, defeating the sharp-shooting Yellow Jackets, securing a key victory. In Friday night’s win over Westover, Southeast Bulloch knocked down 15 3-point baskets as a team. Saturday they hit 11, but Lee County was able to overcome.

The Trojans used their full-court press to their advantage in the first half, forcing turnovers and unlike Friday, they were able to knock down shots. Jalin Wimberly’s steal and layup during one play put the Trojans up 37-21. Lee County kept the defensive pressure on and into the halftime break with a 42-22 lead after holding the Yellow Jackets to just one point in the second quarter.

Southeast Bulloch came out firing on all cylinders in the third quarter, putting together a 14-5 run.

It was a 55-51 game with a little under six minutes left in the fourth quarter. Lee County remained calm as Wimberly knocked down another basket and put the Trojans up 57-51. They were never seriously challenged after Wimberly’s basket.

Wimberly led the Trojans in scoring with 14 points.

Lee County will take on North Clayton Monday night at 7 p.m.

CEDAR GROVE BOYS 63, COLQUITT COUNTY 49: Cedar Grove remained unbeaten, keeping Class AAAAAA Colquitt County winless in the tournament. The packets will meet Westover in the late game Monday night at 8:30 p.m., the final game of the 2014 U-Save-It Classic.

DaNas Andrews led the Packers with 12 points, followed by Tory Ponder’s 10 points.

MONROE BOYS 48, STATESBORO 44: The Monroe Tornadoes ended the second day of the U-Save-It Christmas Classic with a dramatic 48-44 come-from-behind victory over Statesboro.

After trailing the entire game, the Tornadoes tied it up with 4:58 left and then again with 2:45 left in the fourth on Trentavious Jackson and Napoleon Harris free throws. Monroe got a steal immediately after Harris tied the game up the second time and Deonte Young converted the fastbreak lay-up. Monroe went up 43-41 with 1:05 left.

Statesboro couldn’t get any points out of their next trip and were forced to foul a few times down the stretch. Julius Nelson hit one of his two free throws and it became a two possession game with 15 seconds left.

Jaylan Patrick knocked down a huge trey to make it a two point game and gave Statesboro hope with 5.3 seconds left. Emmerson Offord sank two more free throws for Monroe to put the game away.

Jackson was the Tornadoes’ leading scorer on the night with 13 points, followed closely by Young with 12. The Tornadoes will take on Southeast Bulloch on Monday at 1 p.m.