Justin Fleming drives for two of his 21 points that led Druid Hills to a big Region 4-4A boys’ basketball win over No. 9 ranked Salem. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Justin Fleming’s three-point play with 24 seconds to play helped push the Druid Hills Red Devils to a 65-63 Region 4-4A boys’ basketball victory over the No. 9 ranked Salem Seminoles on Tuesday night at Druid Hills.
Salem’s Montez Swann hit a three-pointer with 40 seconds to play as the Seminoles rallied from a 61-55 deficit in the final 1:53 to knot the game at 62-all.
Fleming, who had 15 of his 21 points in the second half, drove from the right wing towards the basket and lofted a shot as he was fouled which found the bottom of the net to give Druid Hills the lead again. Fleming knocked down the free throw to make it a three-point advantage at 65-62.
Jeremiah Venson was fouled with 3.6 seconds to play after a pair of missed free throws by Druid Hills. Venson missed the first and then sank the second to close the gap to 65-63.
Druid Hills got the ball into Fleming who weaved his way up court to run out the final 3.6 seconds for the win.
Salem hit five of its 11 three-pointers in the game in the first quarter to jump out to an early 19-9 lead on the Red Devils. Swann who finished with a game-high 23 points had six of his team’s 11 treys on the night, including 3 in the first quarter.
Druid Hills rallied to take a 29-28 lead into the half as Malick Sadler hit back-to-back bombs from the corner, the last with four seconds left in the half for the lead.
Sadler had an early three in the third quarter and Nate Jackson had a three-point play as the Red Devils pulled out to a 39-32 lead with 3:41 to play in the period.
Venson had a pair of three-pointers to go with one each from Xavier Eutsey and Swann as Salem rallied for a 43-41 lead with 1:06 left in the quarter.
Jaylen Smith’s dunk with 30 seconds left sent the teams into the big fourth quarter tied at 43-all.
Druid Hills improved to 12-5 overall and 5-3 in Region 4-4A play while Salem dropped to 10-4 overall and 6-2 in the region. The win made up for a tough 66-62 loss earlier in the season at Salem.
Malick Sadler added 14 points and Nate Jackson 12 in the win for Druid Hills.
Salem had four players in double figures as Lance Smith (12 points), Xavier Eutsey (11 points) and Jeremiah Venson (10 points) joined Swann (23) in double figures.
Druid Hills’ Indira Kissoonlal drives the baseline against Salem. (Photo by Mark Brock)
(G) Salem 37, Druid Hills 36
The Druid Hills Lady Red Devils had a furious fourth quarter rally come up just one point short as they fell 37-36 at home to the Salem Lady Seminoles on Tuesday.
Trinayah Harris gave Salem (3-9, 2-5) an eight-point lead at 37-29 as she hit a free throw with 1:59 to play.
Twenty-one seconds later Druid Hills’ Kyia Craft grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled as she went back up. Craft hit the two free throws to cut the lead to 37-31.
Jazmyn Curry got wide open for a three-pointer 40 seconds later as Druid Hills (8-8, 3-5) crept within 37-34 with 58 seconds to play in the game.
Salem turned the ball over on its next possession and Craft hit two more free throws and it was a one-point game at 37-36 with just 48 seconds remaining.
Another Salem turnover led to a one-plus-one free-throw attempt by Druid Hills which bounced off the rim and Craft tied up a Salem player for the jump ball, but hit her head on the floor and had to leave the game.
Druid Hills got the ball on the jump call and missed a pair of shots and another jump ball went to Salem. Another turnover put Druid Hills on the line again, but two misses with 1.8 seconds to play led to a scramble for the rebound.
Kamaria Brown came up with the ball for Druid Hills, but her shot fell off the rim as Salem held on for the win.
Craft had 11 points and eight rebounds to lead Druid Hills in the heart-breaking loss. Harris led the way for Salem with 12 points and 10 rebounds.