SGAfalls to Westwood anddefeats Sherwood
by Paul Bridges

The SGA basketball teams traveled to Camilla Monday, December 17 to play Westwood. Neither SGA team played very well as Westwood took both games from SGA.

The Lady Warriors could not get an offense going early against Westwood and fell behind 19-6 after one quarter. The Lady Warriors defense clamped down on the Lady Wildcats in the 2nd quarter holding them to 3 points while putting up 9 of their own to close the gap to 22-15 at the half. The Lady Warriors kept coming back and pulled even with Westwood in the 2nd half. Kristi Williams scored 12 of her game high 17 points in the 4th quarter, but it was not quite enough. Westwood hit their foul shots late and won a close game 47-41.

In the boys' game, Westwood led from start to finish. The Warriors made numerous turnovers that led to easy Wildcat baskets as Westwood downed the Warriors, 51-35. Westwood led 20-13 at the half and outscored the Warriors 17-10 in the 3rd quarter to take a 14 point lead and pretty much coasted to victory from there. Drew Bridges and Michael Fincher led the Warriors' scoring with 9 and 8 points, respectively. During the game, Beau Clenney was able to get in his first action of the season since recovering from a knee injury in football season. Clenney scored 6 points in limited playing time.

On Tuesday, December 18, SGA played their final game before taking off for the Christmas break. SGA hosted Sherwood Christian from Albany. The SGA teams shook off the bad night against Westwood, and both teams played really well against Sherwood.

The Lady Warriors had trouble getting their offense in gear in the first quarter against Sherwood. The Lady Warriors played well on defense though, and Maggie Bridges nailed a jump shot from the wing to help the Lady Warriors grab an 8-4 first quarter lead. The Lady Warriors exploded for 22 second quarter points behind the play of Kristi Williams (9 points) and Jodi Harris (6 points). SGA led 30-19 at the half. The Lady Warriors outscored Sherwood 14-4 in the 3rd quarter and coasted to a 51-36 victory.

Kristi Williams led all scorers with 17 points. Jodi Harris had a hot night pouring in 14 points. Ashley Tedder added 6, Morgan Hilton 5, Lindsay Buckhalter 4, Maggie Bridges and Heather Grebel 2, and Kyndal Andrews 1 point.

The boys' game was a close, exciting game that went down to the final horn. Sherwood defeated the Warriors earlier in the season, but the Warriors got a measure of revenge by hitting some huge shots and making some critical stops to defeat the Eagles 53-49.

Sherwood jumped out to an early lead, but Drew Bridges came in off the bench and hit a couple 3-pointers to help SGA tie the game up 8-8 at the end of the 1st quarter. The teams went back and forth and went to halftime tied 20-20. Sherwood outscored SGA 14-11 in the 3rd quarter to take a 34-31 lead.

Behind the play of Jason Dean (8 points) and Beau Clenney (6 points), the Warriors outscored Sherwood 22-15 in the 4th quarter. With the score tied and 1:17 left on the game clock, Clenney hit 1-of-2 free throws to put SGA up 48-47. After a Sherwood turnover, Dean hit a jumper under the basket to put the Warriors up 50-47 at the :49 mark. Sherwood scored a basket to make it 50-49 but with 26 seconds left, Sherwood fouled Blake Shepard. Shepard drained both free throws putting the Warriors up 52-49. With 4 seconds left on the clock, Michael Fincher put the game out of reach with a free throw, 53-49.

Drew Bridges led the Warriors' scoring with 17 points, hitting five 3-pointers and going 2-for-2 from the free throw line. Jason Dean was also in double figures with 11 points. Beau Clenney and Blake Shepard had 9 points each and Michael Fincher added 7 points.

SGA's next game will be January 4th in Damascus against Westwood. Have a safe and happy New Year! GO WARRIORS!