Several offensive runs propelled the Class 3A No. 1 ranked Cedar Grove Saints to a 79-61 Region 5-3A boys’ basketball victory over the Stephenson Jaguars at Cedar Grove on Tuesday.

The first run came in the first quarter as the Saints went on an 8-0 spurt to pull away from a 10-6 lead to an 18-6 lead heading into the second quarter.

Back-to-back three pointers by Yusef Bowyer and Keith Gillespie followed by a layup by Manny Green on an assist from Gillespie all came within a three-minute span to extend the lead from four to 12 to end the opening period of play.

A 10-0 streak started with 6:02 to play in the first half with the Saints (7-2, 3-0) leading 21-11. This time Gillespie and Dontavious Stringfield Jr. hit back-to-back shots from behind the three-point arc to get things rolling. Stringfield and Bowyer then followed with strong moves to the basket for layups to up the lead to 31-11 with 4:51 to play in the half.

Jerel Smith hit three free throws after being fouled on a three-pointer with 3.9 seconds left in the half to pull the Jaguars (1-6, 0-2) within 14 at the break trailing by a score of 37-23.

The third quarter featured another 8-0 stretch for the Saints as they pushed the lead to over 20. This run started with Gillespie hitting both technical free throws. Harlim Perine followed with a 16-foot jumper and drive to the basket by Green and Stringfield opened up a 52-28 advantage for the Saints.

Perine and Stephenson’s Michael Gibson traded late third quarter three-pointers before Green finished the third quarter scoring with a pair of free throws as the clock had wound down to 20 seconds remaining.

The closest the Jaguars would get the rest of the way as the final margin of 18 points as Gibson hit four free throws in the final 20 seconds of the game.

Gillespie led the Saints with 20 points (including 4 threes) followed by Bowyer with 15 points (3 threes), and 13 points each from Manny Green and Stringfield (8 rebounds).

Stephenson got 14 points (all in the second half) from Onyx Stallings-Brown, including three three-pointers, and 12 points from Cameron Ramsey.

GIRLS
Stephenson 70, Cedar Grove 31
The Stephenson Lady Jaguars exploded for 26 third-quarter points to break a one-point halftime lead wide open on the way to a 70-31 Region 5-3A girls basketball victory over the Cedar Grove Lady Saints in the opener at Cedar Grove on Tuesday.

Cedar Grove (0-8, 0-3) had fought back from double-digit deficits twice in the first half and pulled within 25-24 as Malaya McCutcheon passed to Asi Neels for a layup with 37 seconds left in the second quarter.

Stephenson turned up the defensive intensity in the third quarter by forcing 13 turnovers and holding Cedar Grove to just four points while putting together 15-0 run to take command of what had been a tight game. Kamryn Larkin got the big run started with a driving layup before Serenity Davison and Sarah Okorownta took over the offense.

Davison had a pair of steals for lay-ups and Okorowanta stuck back two offensive rebounds and took a pass from Larkin. Larkin’s second steal finished the 15-0 run at the1:11 mark of the period putting Stephenson up 47-26.

A basket by Arielle Albert broke the run only to have Avantey Gilreath and Kiera Brooks finish off the quarter with back-to-back baskets in the final 37 seconds to put Stephenson up 51-28 going into the fourth quarter.

Six different Lady Jaguars scoring as part of a 12-0 run to open the final period of play as the lead ballooned to 63-28. The only points Cedar Grove put up in the fourth quarter were a driving layup by McCutcheon and a free throw by Paris Hornsby.

Gilreath put together a 27-point, 11-rebound double-double to lead Stephenson with 16 points coming in the first half and eight rebounds in the fourth quarter alone. Okorowanta finished with eight points and nine rebounds for Stephenson.

Paris Hornby was the lead on the floor for Cedar Grove as she finished with a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double for the Lady Saints.