Allec Williams helps Westover beat Albany High

ALBANY — On a night meant to honor its seniors, Westover High School received a big play from one in the final seconds of their game with Albany to lift them to a 64-61 victory at Westover’s Boston Garden.

Up by just a point with under eight seconds to go, Allec Williams intercepted an Albany pass to stop the Indians’ threat of taking the lead. Williams was then fouled and proceeded to hit both free throws to extend the Patriots lead to 64-61. Earlier in the game with the teams tied at 59, Williams hit two free throws to give them a two-point lead.

“He was really big for us,” Westover coach Dallis Smith said. “I’ve been looking for him to step up. He is our captain. He needs to lead us from here on out. He is our man.”

Williams was forced to sit parts of the game due to foul trouble.

Albany jumped out to an early lead going up 10-5 in the first when Jacari Allen hit a jumper. The Indians kept up the strong play holding a 16-12 at the end of the first.

Westover answered back and cut the score to 19-18 when Williams made a layup in the second.

The crowd went crazy when Williams threw down a one-handed slam on a fast break to give Westover a 30-28 lead that held until halftime. Williams finished the game with 13 points.

Kris Gardner scored nine third quarter points to help the Patriots build a 52-45 lead at the end of the third. Gardner ended the game with 11 points.

“We always make it interesting when it doesn’t need to be,” Smith said. “We just aren’t executing. We talk about that all the time…I liked the hustle we did have at the end to still win the game.”

The Indians cut the lead to one-point two separate times before finally tying the game at 59.

Westover’s Quindavious Smith added 12 points while Jamarea Grier had 10.

Albany’s Darrell Bryant finished as the game’s leading scorer with 22 points. John Flood dropped 14 for the Indians.

Westover girls 61, Albany 33

The Lady Patriots bounced back from a tough loss to Americus-Sumter to defeat crosstown rival Albany.

Nyla Perry helped Westover build a 21-8 lead at the end of the first quarter with three treys.

Albany cut the score to single digits midway through the second quarter before the Lady Patriots went on a 10-3 run. They were up 36-19 at halftime.

“Albany played a zone and it gave us a chance to get some good shots off,” Westover coach Lewis Smith said. “We also passed the ball to each other really well. We really turned the plays over well too and that is what we’ve been working at the last couple weeks.”

Bryshea Jackson had a big first half with 13 points. She finished as the game’s leading scorer with 22.

Perry opened the second half with a three as the Lady Patriots went on to overwhelm Albany and secure the victory.

Jasmin Jenkins added 10 for Westover while Perry finished with 13.

Albany was led by China Marcus who scored 15 and DeJarik McClendon who dropped 10.