REGION 1-AAAA BOYS TOURNAMENT: Worth County holds off stubborn Albany

ALBANY — After relying on its two big men during the regular season, the Worth County boys basketball team received a late boost from one of its guards Tuesday on the way to a 59-49 victory over Albany High at Monroe High School in the second round of the Region 1-AAAA tournament.

The victory ensures Worth will be in the state tournament while ending the defending region champions’ season in the process.

Albany was able minimize the impact of Worth forwards Brandon Moore and Anfernee McLemore in the first quarter.

Moore had six of the Rams’ 12 points in the quarter, while McLemore scored two, but the inside presence of Albany’s De’Andre Hamilton gave the bigs trouble as they both missed multiple shots in the quarter.

Hamilton also contributed four points for the Indians in the first, including one that gave them a 12-10 lead. The teams were knotted up at 12 after one.

Moore was able to find a rhythm in the second quarter, scoring six points while McLemore had four. The pair keyed a 13-4 run for the Rams to help them build a 27-18 lead at halftime.

But the Indians opened the second half on a 20-8 run and eventually took a three-point lead late in the third quarter. Darrell Bryant keyed the run with 12 points in the quarter and finished with 14.

Worth coach Roney Mays decided against calling a timeout during the run.

“We have a veteran, senior club,” Mays said. “I tell the guys all the time we have to be able to deal with adversity. I figured I could let them play through it.”

The Rams regained it when McLemore threw down a slam. Worth held a one-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter.

The teams continued to battle into the final period and a free throw by Albany’s John Flood tied the game at 45.

But the Rams scored five unanswered points including a three by Tyre McKinney. It was one of the guard’s three treys in the fourth quarter and helped Worth build a double digit lead.

“I knew it was a clutch situation,” McKinney said. “I didn’t wanna panic. Just wanted to stay calm and do what I do. … just shoot.”

Moore finished as the game’s leading scorer with 24 points while McLemore had 14.

Hamilton had 11 points in the game for the Indians.

Bainbridge boys 79, Crisp County 48

The Bearcats jumped out to an early 6-0 lead and never looked back. Bainbridge, the No. 2 seed, built a double digit lead by halftime.

The second half was routine as the Bearcats led by 16 after three.

Bainbridge was led by Tyree Crump who had 17 points including five threes.

Trevon Shaw had 14 for the Bearcats, who will face third-seeded Worth County Thursday at Americus-Sumter.

Crisp County’s Quentavious Dean led all scorers with 20 points including eight in the first quarter.

Westover boys 61, Americus-Sumter 52

Westover may have lost their final two regular season games but they battled on Tuesday night to get the win that mattered most beating fourth-seeded Americus-Sumter.

The fifth-seeded Patriots trailed Americus-Sumter by six at the end of the first quarter. Westover’s Jacobi Cratic was the reason why they were down by just six and not more. The Patriots center had nine points in the quarter.

A strong defensive effort in the second quarter helped them take a 27-25 lead at halftime.

Westover outscored the Panthers 14-5 in the second quarter. Senior guard Allec Williams gave Westover a 24-23 lead with under two minutes left in the first half.

“I think Allec really calmed down in the second,” Westover coach Dallis Smith said. “He started penetrating and we got them into foul trouble.”

In the fourth quarter, the Panthers went through a drought that lasted nearly four minutes and allowed Westover to build an eight-point lead. Williams scored five points in the final three minutes to help the Patriots ice the game.

The Patriots will face Monroe, the No. 1 seed, Thursday night at Americus-Sumter at 8:30 p.m.

Monroe boys 77, Dougherty 51

There might not be anybody in the state as hot as Monroe. The Tornadoes extended their winning streak to nine with a beating of Dougherty.

The Trojans were able to hang with Monroe for the first quarter and trailed by just two at the end of the opening period.

But when the second quarter got underway, the Tornadoes’ offense started clicking in part because of their defense.

Monroe closed the second quarter on an 18-4 run with many of the baskets being scored off of fast-break points.

Emeshuan Offord helped key the run with back-to-back steals early in the quarter. He also capped the run with a buzzer-beater three that gave Monroe a 43-22 lead at halftime.

Dougherty cut the score to 58-44 with 5:20 left in the game.

The Trojans capitalized on a small drought by Monroe that was ended when Napoleon Harris threw down a dunk to make it a 16-point game.

Monroe, who have lost just twice since Christmas, will face Westover Thursday night. They beat the Patriots in both of the team’s meetings earlier this season.

“Anytime we play them, you can throw those records out the window,” Monroe coach Marquis Davis said. “It is going to be a dog fight on Thursday.”

Offord had 15 points for Monroe while Harris dropped 14. Trentavious Jackson and K’Naurtica George each had 10.

Dougherty’s David Quimby led all scorers with 19 points. Michael Sawyer had 10 points.