REGION 1-AAAA TOURNAMENT: Westover boys roll to region tournament title

AMERICUS — Westover is getting hot at the right time of the season. After entering the Region 1-AAAA tournament as the No. 5 seed, the Patriots knocked off three higher seeds to win the region with a 72-64 victory over second-seeded Bainbridge Friday night in the championship game at Americus-Sumter.

There were some tight moments late in the game for Westover. After leading by 21 at halftime, the Patriots saw the lead dwindle in the fourth quarter.

Jacobi Cratic provided a big boost for Westover in the third quarter. The big man scored seven points in a row including a dunk and a fadeaway bank shot to make the score 47-23.

“We came out very relaxed,” Westover coach Dallis Smith said. “We were playing hard and the game was clicking for us. We’ve been waiting to play well together and I thought tonight was good.”

Bainbridge widdled the score to 60-48 early in the fourth quarter when Tyree Crump scored nine straight points. The Bearcats kept pecking away until it was a six-point game.

Westover sneaked out with a victory due to a clutch baskets by Allec Williams and Kris Gardner.

Americus-Sumter 69, Westover 62

One night after being locked in a low-scoring, defensive battle, the Westover Lady Patriots were involved in a game of the opposite.

The Lady Patriots lost to Americus-Sumter in the championship game of the Region 1-AAAA tournament Friday night at Americus-Sumter High School.

The Americus-Sumter offense got off to a fast start, putting up 20 points in the first quarter to Westover’s seven.

The Lady Panthers continued to hit on all cylinders in the second quarter without their star.

After committing three fouls in the first quarter and a half, Florida State signee Atyanna Gaulden was tied to the bench for the majority of the second quarter. Her team still managed to go on a 10-2 run at the end of the half and took a 34-19 lead into the locker room.

Thursday night, Westover put up just 27 points in their victory over Bainbridge.

“Americus wasn’t going to let that happen tonight,” Westover coach Lewis Smith said. “They were going to dictate the pass. Tonight, it was a matter of if we could slow it down because they were going to try and speed it up.”

Westover’s offense started to get going in the third quarter. Bryshea Jackson and Tiana Campbell combined to score 14 points to help the Lady Patriots stay in the game.

Gaulden finally got her offense going in the third. After being held to just two points in the first half, the guard dropped 11 points. She finished the game with 13.

Jackson and Campbell continued to do their part in the final quarter. Campbell scored 10 points and was a perfect six-for-six from the free throw line.

Jackson scored eight, including a basket that cut the score to 13. Westover had it down to 10 with more than a minute remaining, but the deficit was too great.

Smith emphasized that his team was in a good spot no matter the outcome.

“I told the girls that we were playing with house money,” Smith said. “Everything we did starting with tonight, we weren’t supposed to be here. We just needed to play and I was pleased with our effort.”

Westover’s Jasmine Jenkins had 10 while Campbell scored 19. Jackson scored 20 points.

Americus-Sumter was led by Timia Swanson who scored 20. Jy Long had 11 for the Lady Panthers and Kayla Howard scored 15.

The Lady Patriots will be a No. 2 seed in the state tournament and will play at home.

Westover boys 72, Bainbridge 64

Westover is getting hot at the right time of the season. After entering the Region 1-AAAA tournament as the No. 5 seed, the Patriots knocked off three higher seeds to win the region a victory over second-seeded Bainbridge on Friday night in the championship game at Americus-Sumter.

There were some tight moments late in the game for Westover. After leading by 21 at halftime, the Patriots saw the lead dwindle in the fourth quarter.

Jacobi Cratic provided a big boost for Westover in the third quarter. The big man scored seven points in a row including a dunk and a fadeaway bank shot to make the score 47-23.

“We came out very relaxed,” Westover coach Dallis Smith said. “We were playing hard and the game was clicking for us. We’ve been waiting to play well together and I thought tonight was good.”

Bainbridge widdled the score to 60-48 early in the fourth quarter when Tyree Crump scored nine straight points. The Bearcats kept pecking away until it was a six-point game.

Westover sneaked out with a victory due to a clutch baskets by Allec Williams and Kris Gardner.

Bainbridge girls 52, Monroe 45

The Monroe girls will be going to the state playoffs, but they won’t have a whole lot of momentum.

The Lady Tornadoes lost to Bainbridge 52-45 on Friday night in the Region 1-AAAA consolation game at Americus-Sumter.

Monroe went down by double digits early in the second quarter before going a 8-2 run to close the second down 24-20.

The Lady Bearcats once again went to work in the second half opening up a seven-point lead before Monroe once again clawed back into it.

They cut the score to 36-34 before a buzzer beater in the third by Bainbridge made it 38-34.

Monroe had a chance to come back late in fourth when they trailed by just four. The Lady Tornadoes failed to capitalize on multiple trips to the free throw line going 3-for-8 in the final two minutes.

Tyra Smart led Bainbridge with 14 points in the game. Nadia Marshall added 11.

Toddriana Isler led all scorers with 20 points.

The Lady Tornadoes will be either a No. 3 or No. 4 seed when the state playoff brackets are announced.

Monroe boys 61, Worth County 46

After falling to Westover in the Region 1-AAAA semifinals game on Thursday night, the Monroe boys looked every bit like the team that had reeled of nine wins coming into the region tournament.

The Tornadoes beat Worth County 61-46 in the consolation game of the playoffs.

After having an off night on Thursday, Emeshuan Offord kickstarted the Monroe offense in the first quarter.

The guard hit two threes to open the game and had eight of the Tornadoes 10 points.

He came back in the second quarter and hit three more to help Monroe jump out to a six-point lead.

Kidarias Gaint followed up with a dunk and a trey of his own to make cut the score to 29-28 at halftime.

The Rams were able to keep it within double digits for most of the second half until Trentatvious Jackson scored back-to-back baskets to make it a 52-39 game.

“I thought we played pretty well,” Monroe coach Marquis Davis said. “It was good to bounce back from the loss last night. You see what kind of time you have when you bounce back from a major loss like that.”

The crowd went crazy when Monroe’s Ulysses Williams drove the lane and threw down a one-handed dunk.

Worth took out their starters with two minutes remaining in the game.

Offord finished as the game’s leading scorer with 18 points. Jackson had 13 while K’Naurtica George scored 15.

Monroe was able to limit Worth forwards Brandon Moore and Anfernee McLemore to 11 and 15, respectively.

The Tornadoes and Rams will each be either a No. 3 or No. 4 in the state playoffs.