GIRLS
PEMBROKE -- Bryan County’s girls couldn’t get over the hump against Claxton in the semifinals of the Region 3A Public tournament, but they are still state playoff bound after missing out last year.
The Redskins (22-5) will be playing at Terrell County (12-13) at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday as a No. 3 seed in the GHSA Class A Public state playoffs.
Having to go on the road, Coach Mario Mincey said, doesn’t bother him in the least.
“As far as I’m concerned, we’re in a good situation,” Mincey said. “I told the kids we’re one of 32 teams in Georgia still playing. For our seniors playing on the road is nothing new.
“I don’t think there’s another team in Georgia playing in the state playoffs with nine freshmen.”
Bryan County secured its state tourney berth last Thursday when it beat ECI 38-9 in the region quarterfinals before losing to Claxton, 49-33, in Friday’s semis. It bounced back to knock off Jenkins County, 39-34, in the consolation game.
Niyah Shuman scored 25 points to lead the win over the War Eagles after scoring 10 points total in the two previous games. Kenzie Stucker scored 13 against ECI and 14 against Claxton but with Shuman doing all the scoring against Jenkins County she wasn’t needed as she had four while Anderia Jackson added six.
The Redskins entered the region tournament as a No. 3 seed and had the difficult task of trying to match up against a Claxton team it lost to twice in the regular season.
The Tigers led 9-7 after the first quarter and opened the second on a 9-2 run to take control of the game.
Claxton led 22-14 at the half and pushed it to 10 points, 27-17, with 5:15 left in the third. The Tigers were up 12 before Ashanti Brown scored inside. That was the Redskins’ last gasp as Claxton scored the final six points of the quarter to coast home from there.
“In a region as tough as our it’s a blessing to us to be in the state playoffs,” Mincey said. “I wasn’t surprised by to Claxton. They’re a veteran team and most of those kids have been playing together since the sixth grade.”
Screven County lived up to its No. 1 seed by beating the Tigers, 46-39, in the championship game. The last time, incidentally, the Redskins held a team to single digits was when they beat Screven, 48-6, in 2018, a span of 127 games.
Terrell County finished fourth in Region 1 in regular season play but surprised Randolph-Clay in the semifinals before losing to Seminole County in the championship game.
“Watching them on film they’re a big team and long,” Mincey said. “They can run and get out in transition. If we can make it a half-court game, we’ve got a chance. We can’t let them turn it into a track meet.”
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BOYS
Brent Anderson spent most of Sunday calling coaching friends who might be able to give him some insight on Mitchell County who his Bryan County team will play in the opening round of the GHSA Class 3A Public state tournament.
What he learned about Mitchell County (19-6) was not what he wanted to hear.
“I think they are better than any team we have played in our region,” Anderson said. “They look like the Groves team we saw earlier in the year. They have a 6-foot-6 shooting guard and a 6-5 post player who is very physical.
“This will be a tall test for us, but we haven’t backed down from anyone all season. This experience will be new for us but we are super excited to be in the position we are in.”
The Redskins (20-6) will be playing the Camilla school (19-6) as a No. 3 seed after a dominating 54-25 win over Metter in the consolation game of the Region 3A Public tournament last Saturday at Claxton High School’s sparkling new gym.
Bryan County went into the tournament as the No. 1 seed but saw its chances to win its first region championship since 1993 go down in flames when Jenkins County used its size advantage to control the boards in posting a 68-56 win.
Going into the game the Redskins knew they had matchup problems with the War Eagles who got second and third chances off missed shots all night and had a 2-to-1 rebounding advantage.
Bryan County had beaten Jenkins County twice in the regular season, coming from 15 points behind in one game. There was no comeback the third time around.
The comeback was by the War Eagles as the Redskins jumped out to an early 17-4 lead but could not sustain the momentum as Jenkins County worked its way back into it.
Jenkins County led 30-29 at the half and the game remained close until midway through the fourth quarter. Bryan County trailed 49-45 with 6:30 to play following a free throw by Elijah Mincey. It could get no closer.
“We talked in the locker room after the game and it was very emotional,” Anderson said. “We have guys that have poured their hearts into this season. The good thing I told them we have been rewarded for our efforts all year.
“We knew coming in this game would not be easy. They played extremely well and gave us fits all night. Saturday, we came out very focused and played really well defensively.”
Mincey had 21 points to lead the way against Jenkins County, Jamal Campbell added 17 and Tanner Ennis 10.
Against Metter the Redskins came out firing on all cylinders and it was never close. Mincey again led the scoring with 18 points, Campbell had 15 and Ennis 10.