Westover’s youth leads them to victory

ALBANY — Westover is a rather young team and that youth was on display Saturday night against Manchester in the Patriots’ late game of the U-Save-It Classic.

With just one starter returning from last season, the Patriots have already received good performances from multiple underclassmen.

But Saturday was Jordan Brown’s turn.

The freshman dropped 21 points in Westover’s 72-70 victory that was decided in the final seconds of the game.

The Patriots were down by as many as nine before Quandavious Smith scored the team’s final six points. Smith tied the game at 70 after stealing an inbounds pass. The junior was later fouled with the game still tied at 70 and hit the game-winning free throws with 3.2 seconds left in the game.

“We didn’t play well last time we were (at Albany High School),” Westover coach Dallis Smith said. “It is good to see some of the young kids step up. What I told the kids is that we are young experience-wise so it would take us a minute to gel.”

The game got off to a fast start with the teams playing little defense in the first quarter. The Patriots were up 25-20 after one. The game slowed down considerably in the second quarter with the teams combining for just 25 points. Manchester outscored the Patriots 15-10 in the second quarter and took a 37-35 lead into the half.

The third quarter was even slower than the second with Manchester outscoring Westover 12-11.

After putting up nine points in the first half, Brown scored 12 points in the second half. He finished the game with three treys.

“He was huge for us,” Smith said. “He is a ninth-grader and he’s just learning what we want him to do. He’s getting in the right position and the right place at the right time.”

Westover’s Allec Williams finished the game with 16 points.

Manchester’s Demarcus Addie was the game’s leading scorer with 29 points. Jah’Nile Hill and Travian Sullivan both had 10 points for Manchester.

The U-Save It takes a break on Sunday before ramping up again Monday.

Westover faces South Cobb Monday at 7 p.m. and they finish the tournament with a game against Statesboro at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.