OAKWOOD -- Like two heavyweight boxers, both West Hall and Monroe Area were looking to make statements Tuesday night in a huge Region 8B-AAA showdown between top five teams in Class AAA.
Round One went to the Spartans, who used a 5-0 run to open the second half to grab the lead, and then went on a 9-1 run in the fourth quarter to seal a 61-51 win at the West Hall gym.
The two teams will meet again Feb. 4 in Monroe in the next-to-last regular season game. Odds are it won't be the last meeting between them with the Region 8-AAA Tournament and even a showdown in the state playoffs a possibility.
West Hall coach Warren Sellers, however, said not to read too much into it, despite the fact they became the first team in Georgia to knock off the third-ranked Hurricanes. The win also gave the fifth-ranked Spartans (14-3, 5-0 Region 8B-AAA) sole possession of first place in the subregion.
"It was a big win because this region is loaded and you need to win at home," he said. "But as far as saying we're a title contender or anything like that, not yet. We still have a lot to work on."
The Spartans used a tireless defensive effort to slow down the high-scoring Hurricanes (14-2, 4-1). They forced 17 turnovers and outrebounded Monroe Area 26-13 for the game to take away their fast break opportunities.
West Hall also benefitted from having 6-foot, 7-inch Stephon Tuitt in chronic foul trouble. The senior, who came in averaging more than 15 rebounds and four blocks a game, finished with no points, two rebounds, and one block before fouling out early in the fourth quarter. He missed nearly half of the first half with three fouls.
"That was a huge part of the game," Sellers said. "He altered several shots in the first half and disrupted our offense. When he went out I felt like we were in good shape."
The Spartans decisive fourth quarter run came in a 1:45 span after Tuitt fouled out. Jarquise Young sparked the run with a driving layup and Dre Pou followed with a put back off a miss moments later. Shunquez Stephens added a long 3-pointer and then Pou hit another driving layup for a 46-37 lead. Monroe Area would not get closer than six the rest of the way as West Hall would hit 3-of-4 free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.
While the offense got some key baskets, it was the defense that set the tone for West Hall in the second half.
"I told (the team) before the game how explosive (Monroe) was and they saw that early with that eight-point run in 55 seconds at the end of the first quarter," Sellers said. "The rebounding helped take away their running game and that was a key."
Jamaad Stephens opened the second half with a 3-pointer for West Hall to give them a 25-23 lead and the Spartans never trailed again. After a 15-point second quarter, Monroe managed just 10 in the third quarter with six turnovers while West Hall took control running out to a 37-33 lead.
Shunquez Stephens finished with 18 points and nine rebounds to lead West Hall. Young and Jamaad Stephens each finished with 13 points for the Spartans. Young added six assists and two steals and Jamaad Stephens had five rebounds.
Monroe junior Ken Jackson, who some claim is the best pure point guard in Region 8-AAA, started slow but finished with 21 points, five assists, three steals, and three rebounds, including three acrobatic layups with defenders on him each time. Damond Smith finished with 14 points as the two combined for eight of the Hurricanes' nine 3-pointers.
The first quarter saw both teams go on big runs. The Spartans opened the game with a 9-0 run in the first seven minutes while also holding the Hurricanes to 0-for-8 shooting and five turnovers. But Monroe owned the final 55 seconds.
Smith drained back-to-back 3-pointers off assists from Jackson, who floated in a running shot at the buzzer to cut it to 9-8. The Hurricanes then took their first lead moments into the second quarter on another 3-pointer from Smith. The two teams then traded four leads and one tie with Monroe Area eventually taking a 23-22 lead into halftime.
Friday
January 31st, 2025
5:12PM
