Charging foul call ends Albany Dougherty’s comeback in the Final Four

SAVANNAH – Just as Kaleke Singletary-Jinks scored with 18 seconds left to tie the game Saturday night, a whistle blew and a game official assessed a charging foul against Singletary-Jinks, negating the basket and killing Dougherty’s come-from-behind rally. As a result, Johnson of Savannah moves onto the state championship game with a 55-51 win over Dougherty, and the Trojans’ season is over.

With less than a minute to play, Dougherty head coach Bakari Bryant gathered his team to put together a plan for the chance to tie the game. That plan was obviously to get the ball to Singletary-Jinks who had been successful throughout the fourth quarter in taking the ball through the lane and to the hoop. He did that again, but this time, instead of a blocking foul on Johnson, the referee called a charging foul against Singletary-Jinks.

“Regardless of the first match up earlier this season, we came into this game with the mindset of knowing it was going to be a good one,” said Bryant. “In the final four it doesn’t matter how good you are on paper it’s about who’s playing the best ball in the moment. They were more focused and locked in than we were. They were the lions trying to feed their family and we were the gazelles trying to survive,” he said. “That game last night left a bad taste in my mouth. We had the opportunity to seize the moment. I told our guys throughout the year not to allow refs to make the deciding factor and we did that last night. Hats off to Johnson for playing great late and making timely plays. Their coach did an amazing job preparing his team and it showed.”

“Reloading season starts back after spring break so be ready for unfinished business,” Bryant continued. “This group coming back will be D Trojan 1’s instead of The Chosen Ones. Our DT4L fans showed out and I’m definitely looking forward to the off season. My focus is now on my family I go home to.”

A large contingent of Dougherty fans made the four-hour trip to watch the Trojans play lackluster basketball for the first three quarters, then come alive in the fourth quarter and almost take the game.

The Trojans, who played spectacularly earlier in the week to advance with a win over Douglass of Atlanta, did not have that same spark until late. Dougherty was down 41-29 heading into the final quarter of the game when the Trojans put on a full-court trapping defense to create turnovers and made a comeback. Singeltary-Jinks took the ball to the basket repeatedly to help bring his team back.

Singletary-Jinks finished the night with 18 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter. He made five of six fourth quarter free throws. Jawuan Jinks, Jr. and Markelle Jones each scored 11 for the Trojans.

By Joe Whitfield
Sports EditorJoeWhitfield[email protected]