Tip-Off Classic: Lee County outlasts Westover in triple overtime; Dougherty beats Monroe
Lee County guard Kam Sanders drives toward the basket against Westover’s Bryson Carter during Friday night’s Tip-Off Classic at Albany State West. Sanders scored 26 points to lead the Trojans to an 81-69 win over the Patriots. Carter scored 15 points to lead Westover.
By Joe WhitfieldBy Joe Whitfield
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ALBANY — The high school basketball season opened with excitement Friday night at the Dougherty County Tip-off Classic, where a packed crowd at Albany State West witnessed No. 5-ranked Lee County edge past Westover in a thrilling 81-69 triple-overtime battle.
In the night’s final matchup, Dougherty defeated Monroe 66-47. Earlier in the day, Lee County’s girls won against Westover 60-36, and Monroe’s girls prevailed over Dougherty 61-50.
The boys’ contest between Westover and Lee County started slowly, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. It took more than two minutes before Lee County’s Kam Sanders broke the ice with a drive to the basket. Westover’s Aiden Reese answered soon after, and later in the first quarter, Sanders and Reese traded three-pointers.
The Trojans held a narrow 13-9 lead by the end of the quarter. The game remained close, with both teams trading leads, until the Trojans finally pulled ahead in the third overtime to secure the win.
Sanders led Lee County with 26 points, while TJ Williams and Braden Moore each added 16.
For Westover, Bryson Carter and Keyvon Brady led with 15 points apiece. Reese contributed 13, Tykwavious Johnson scored 12, and Gregory Williams added nine.
Dougherty 66, Monroe 47
In the evening’s last boys’ game, the Dougherty Trojans jumped out to a commanding 22-7 lead with a 15-1 run in the first quarter against a Monroe team missing four senior players due to the ongoing football playoffs.
Dougherty maintained control and clinched a 66-47 victory.
Jaquavus Hallman paced the Trojans with 13 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Montravius Perkins contributed 10 points and six rebounds. Juwuan Jinks added nine points.
Lamond Seadrow led Monroe with 12 points, followed by Tristen Terry and Montavius Luke with nine each.
Lee County girls 60, Westover 36
The day’s opening game saw the Lady Trojans of Lee County overcome a slow start.
Westover’s Sydney Donaldson and Kaiya Conway led a second-quarter push that gave the Lady Patriots an 18-11 halftime lead. Lee County responded with stifling defense in the second half, forcing a series of turnovers and regaining the lead at 22-21, prompting Westover head coach Derek Pace to call a timeout.
Lee County’s relentless full-court pressure allowed Lady Trojans to pull ahead 28-21, and despite Donaldson briefly leaving the game with an ankle injury, the Lady Trojans outscored Westover 29-7 in the third quarter, ultimately securing a 60-36 win.
Camya Hutchinson led Lee County with 15 points, Jada Riley scored 14, Bayyinah Citlak added 10 and Taliyah Porter contributed nine.
Donaldson topped Westover’s scoring with 22 points.
Monroe girls 61, Dougherty 50
In another intense girls’ matchup, Monroe and Dougherty traded baskets early until back-to-back three-pointers by Taylor McKinzy and Kie’Aundria Acree gave Monroe a comfortable lead.
Monroe ended the first quarter ahead 19-11 and extended its advantage to 34-19 at halftime, with Dougherty’s leading scorer, Jatiana Chambers, on the bench.
Dougherty mounted a comeback in the final stretch, with Chambers hitting key shots, but Monroe maintained its lead.
Acree led Monroe with a dominant 38 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and four blocks, while McKinzy added 14 points and six rebounds.
Chambers led Dougherty with 19 points, Amiyah Jackson scored nine and D’Asia Simmons contributed eight. Looking ahead, Dougherty is set to host Mitchell County on Tuesday in Albany and will then face Lee County on Saturday. Monroe and Westover will play away games later this week.
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