NEWTON COUNTY – Thursday’s dwelling matchup between the Alcovy Tigers and the Ola Mustangs from McDonough led to blended outcomes.
The Girl Tigers led for almost all of their contest in opposition to the Girl Mustangs. However regardless of gutsy performances from seniors Janae Hutcherson and Shamariah Gibbs, Ola charged again within the fourth quarter to take over the lead and safe the 52-47 win.
On the boy’s aspect, star guard Nick Durham continued to shine, placing on one in every of his greatest performances in his highschool profession over a beforehand state-ranked Ola crew. In the long run, the Durham-led Tigers gained decisively with a closing rating of 67-48.
Girl Tigers fall brief regardless of main over three quarters of the sport
Alcovy began sluggish out of the gate, permitting a 7-2 run within the opening minutes of the sport. Within the second portion of the primary quarter, scores from Hutcherson, Addison Method and Simaria Wilburn introduced the sport to 12-12. A go-ahead layup from Gibbs put the Girl Tigers up 14-12 on the finish of the primary body.
The Girl Tigers’ run continued into the second quarter, going up 10-0 in a six-minute span between quarters. However the taking pictures from Ola’s Lyla Leonard stored the Girl Mustangs in it, bringing the sport to 28-27 going into the half in Alcovy’s favor.
The offensive prowess of Alcovy shined vibrant within the third quarter, with Gibbs and Hutcherson producing key moments to increase their result in 42-35 heading into the ultimate body.
Sadly for Alcovy, that was when the sport turned on its head because the Girl Mustangs went on a 12-0 run to take the lead 47-42. Fast buckets from Wilburn and Hutcherson stored the sport shut, however it was not meant to be because the Girl Tigers dropped the competition 52-47.
Gibbs led all scorers with 14, whereas Hutcherson and Wilburn had 13 apiece. Leonard led all Girl Mustangs scorers with 14.
The loss marked one other disappointing consequence for Alcovy regardless of having management of over half of the sport. The Girl Tigers now fall to 2-6 on the season, and can hope to rebound tonight in opposition to the Jasper County Hurricanes (0-2) on the highway
Durham drops 33 in sturdy efficiency in opposition to Mustangs
The Tigers went to work instantly within the first quarter, with speedy scores from guards Jaqari Smith and Lee San Felipe. The mix of Durham, Smith and San Felipe led the Tigers to a 16-7 rating to shut out the primary quarter.
Whereas the Tigers continued to maintain the lead all through the second body, the Mustangs raced ahead, occurring a 8-0 run to shut out the half to maintain the sport inside 5 factors.
The third quarter turned a turning level for Alcovy, as Durham led the Tigers to an 18-point quarter. Paired with a powerful defensive efficiency from Adarian Johnson, the Tigers went into the fourth quarter with a 46-39 lead.
All cylinders clicked for the Tigers within the fourth quarter as they outscored Ola 21-9 to take the 67-48 victory.
Durham completed with 33 factors and 10 rebounds, tying his season-high in factors and marking his second double-double of the season. Smith completed with 12 factors whereas San Felipe completed with 10. Johnson recorded 10 rebounds to go together with six factors of his personal.
Bello led all Ola scorers with 18, whereas Kennesaw State College commit Nigel Thomas was notably held to only three factors.
Head coach Taylor Jackson credited the crew’s victory to the psychological toughness and preparation that has been instilled in them.
“The primary half you noticed glimpses… however the second half was actually the place it was like ‘Okay each time, each time, each time. We’re gonna do it. We’re gonna do it. And if you have a look at the scoreboard you’re the place you wanna be.”
The win now strikes the Tigers to 6-2 on the season, an enchancment from this time one yr in the past.
Going through a former state-ranked single A crew within the Jasper County Hurricanes on tomorrow, Jackson mentioned that treating excessive stage of play as the usual is what’s retaining the Tigers locked in shifting ahead.
“We’re attending to the purpose the place a excessive stage of play is the expectation,” Jackson mentioned. “So we ought to be excited once we beat crew… however on the identical time you also needs to count on it since you generally is a nice crew.”
