Tucker’s Braedyn Gillespie (with ball) drives against Southwest DeKalb’s Messiah Mergen during first half action of the Tigers 59-51 win over the previously unbeaten Panthers. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Tucker Tigers gave Coach James Hartry his 495th win (495-206) by knocking off the previously undefeated No. 6 ranked Southwest DeKalb Panthers 59-51 in a Region 5-4A battle of DeKalb County rivals at Tucker on Friday night.
Southwest DeKalb came into the game 9-0 overall and 4-0 in Region 5-4A including wins over Class 4A No. 9 ranked Marist, No. 10 ranked St. Pius X and Class 2A No. 2 ranked Columbia.
The two teams went to halftime knotted at 25-25 and Tucker (8-3, 4-1) came out determined in the second half reeling off a 14-2 run after the Panthers took a short lived 26-25 lead on a free throw by Aaron Burks.
Tucker scored the next seven points, all via the free-throw line to go up 32-26. Austin Walker did the most damage at the line in the run with four consecutive free throws following a free throw by Jordan Burton to tie the game again with 7:12 left in the quarter. Jakobe Williams added two more free throws to end the mini run by the Tigers.
Kelvin Peek III broke up the run with a basket on an assist from Randall Henley to make it 32-28 with 4:30 remaining in the quarter. Dylan Rivers scored the next five points, hitting a three-pointer on a dish out from Burton and then a layup on the assist from Williams.
Burton got a nice lead pass from Williams for another layup and the Panthers were up 39-28 at the 2:29 mark of the third quarter.
Williams, a point guard, had four rebounds in the quarter and finished off with two free throws and a drive down the lane with two seconds left in the period to give the Tigers a 44-36 advantage heading into the final quarter of play.
Leading 49-42 with 4:23 left in the game, the Tigers went on another 7-0 run with Omari Fernndez scoring five consecutive points with two layups and one of two from the line. Williams made it a 14-point margin with two more free throws at the 2:16 mark. The Panthers would go to hit 18 of 24 I the second half. Southwest DeKalb finished the night hitting 24 of 32 free throws in the game.
An offensive put back by Peek and drive inside to go with Essex’s layup and a three-point play by Peek pulled the Panthers back within six with 26 seconds to play. Walker clinched the game with two more free throws with 18.6 seconds to play to make it 59-51.
Southwest DeKalb finished the fourth quarter with eight turnovers and finished the game with 20.
Jakobe Williams finished the game with 13 points, six rebounds and five assists to lead the Tigers. Dylan Rivers added 10 to join Williams in doubles while Austin Walker and Braedyn Gillespie hit for nine points each.
Kevin Peek III lead all scorers with 21 points and completed a double-double with 10 boards in the game for the Panthers.
Southwest DeKalb’s Mariya Shields makes a steal in front of Tucker’s Mya Sales (44) during the Lady Panthers 55-19 Region 5-4A win at Tucker on Friday night. (Photo by Mark Brock)
GIRLS
SW DeKalb 55, Tucker 19
The Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers forced 21 first half turnovers and held the Tucker Lady Tigers without a first half basket on the way to a 55-19 Region 5-4A girls’ win to open the night at Tucker on Friday.
Tucker tied the game at 2-2 on a pair of free throws by Harmonie Cooper with seven minutes to play in the first quarter before Southwest DeKalb went on an 18-0 run to take command of the game at 20-2 heading into the second quarter.
Jayla Walton sparked the 18-0 run hitting for six points including four of six from the free-throw line. Miriyah Shields also had six points in the first quarter including a layup on a feed from Walton to end the first quarter with the Panthers up 20-2.
Bailee Canty had three steals that led to points for Southwest DeKalb in the second quarter as she made two easy layups and passe to Ryleigh Kimmons and Jalaina Alford for two more easy buckets to send the Panthers into the half up 30-8. Tucker was six of eight from the free-throw line in the second quarter.
Canty helped Southwest DeKalb put the finishing touches on the win, scoring seven points in the first three minutes of the second half as the lead expanded to 42-10.
Tucker picked up its first two baskets of the game in the third quarter. Shemeria Johnson hit the first with 5:26 remaining and Amunique Blyden scored the last points of third quarter.
Jayla Walton finished the night with a game-high 15 points to lead Southwest DeKalb (6-5, 3-2) and Bailee Canty joined her in double figures with 13. Amunique Blyden finished with nine points to lead Tucker and Elaina Parker pulled down nine rebounds.