Griffin High point guard Jaquez Parks (3) drives in for a layup Friday night at The House against Union Grove in Region 3-AAAA Div. A action. Griffin defeated the Wolverines 44-32 for its first win of the season and followed it up the next night with a 36-34 non-region win against Southwest Macon. (John Sullivan/Daily News)
The team, under the direction of head coach Prelvis Paster, in his first season at Griffin, shook off a rough start — that included four consecutive losses — with wins of 44-32 in their subregion opener Friday at home against Union Grove and 36-34 Saturday in non-subregion play at Southwest Macon.
How impressive was the feat? The combined 66-point total allowed the opposition is the lowest in back-to-back games in Griffin High history dating back as far as there are consecutive hard records in the files at the Griffin Daily News (the 1997-98 season).
Point guard Jaquez Parks had 3 assists and 7 points, including two free throws in the final seconds Saturday, to give the Bears (2-4 overall, 1-0 Region 3-AAAA Div. A) their first win streak this season. Trey Willis led the Bears with 8 points and 5 rebounds, while J.T. Williams chipped in 4 steals.
Twenty four hours earlier, J.R. Ellis led the team with 12 points, 3 assists and 2 steals, while Terrell Collier added 10 points and added 5 rebounds as the team won for the first time this season.
However, more notable than the scoring was the team's play on defense in both outings.
Griffin, with its newly-found, defense-first attitude, looks to make it three in a row 7:30 p.m., today at region foe Alcovy. The Tigers (3-1 overall, 0-0 Region 3-AAAA Div. A) have won two in a row.
*****
— Sandy Creek 65, Spalding boys 58: Spalding led 28-26 at the half at home, but fell apart in the second half, losing their sixth straight to start the season. Spalding trailed 40-36 heading into the fourth quarter. Terence Brittian had 20 points, Devin White added 10 and Walter Head chipped in 8 to lead Spalding High (0-6 overall, 0-3 Region 4-AAA).
"I think the guys fatigued a bit in the second half, and I've got to figure out a way to make sure the guys are fresher late in the game," said Jags head coach Terry White, in his first year at Spalding. "We'll keep on fighting and working hard each game."
The Jags travel to take on Class AAAA No. 7-ranked Rockdale County on Friday in non-region action. Spalding lost 74-55 to Rockdale on Nov. 15 in SHS's season and home opener.
*****
— Sandy Creek 52, Spalding girls 42: Spalding played better against Class AAA No. 3 state-ranked Sandy Creek than it did last year, losing by 10 at home Saturday to the Lady Patriots — a far cry from a 70-29 loss the first time the teams met a year ago.
This time Dee Dee Matthews had 11 points, 12 rebounds, 6 blocks and 4 assists and Grenishia Daniel and Twandalette Cotton added 8 points each to lead Spalding (1-6 overall, 0-3 4-AAA play).
It was the second loss in a row for Spalding and sixth in the last seven games this season.
*****
— SW Macon 50, Griffin girls 47: MACON — Jahmiya Clemons led Griffin with 17 points, but it wasn't enough to push the Lady Bears past Southwest-Macon on Saturday in non subregion action.
Xandria Hosely added 11 points and Shacoria Jones chipped in 8 points for Griffin (3-3 overall, 0-1 Region 3-AAAA Div. A), which had a modest two-game win streak snapped.
The Lady Bears travels to take on class AAAA No. 10-state ranked Alcovy (3-0 overall, 0-0 Regions 3-AAAA Div. A) 6 p.m., today.
Post a Comment