Basketball: Knights overcome 'sloppy' start to open 8-AAAA with win; Lady Knights fall

OAKWOOD -- Early turnovers. Missed dunks. Spotty defense.<br /> <br /> Despite all that, the Class AAAA No. 2-ranked Johnson boys remained unbeaten after taking a 68-50 victory over Madison County Friday night at the Johnson gym in the Region 8-AAAA opener for both teams.<br /> <br /> It was the Knights (14-0, 1-0 Region 8-AAAA) sixth straight win by 12 or more points. But it certainly didn't resemble the Knights' near-flawless performance over Gainesville last week in the Lanierland finals.<br /> <br /> Johnson had four early turnovers, hit just 3-of-12 3-pointers to open the game, and allowed five layups on defense in the first nine minutes.<br /> <br /> "We were really sloppy at the start," Johnson coach Jeff Steele said. "It was probably a little too much of the guys believing what they hear people say about how good they are. You're never as good as the perception they have of you."<br /> <br /> It seemed that way early on.<br /> <br /> It was back-and-forth early as the teams traded the lead five times with two ties. Johnson's Ty Cockfield would hit a 3-pointer to give Johnson a 15-12 lead after the first quarter and Madison County would not lead again.<br /> <br /> The Red Raiders (8-7, 0-1) pulled within 15-14 on a basket by Malik Freeman to open the second quarter but the Knights, behind seven points and three assists from Cockfield, took control with a 16-4 run over the next five minutes for a 28-16 lead with 2:00 left in the half. Four different Knights scored during the run, which was powered by the Johnson defense forcing four Madison County turnovers<br /> <br /> Keith Gantt drained a long 3-pointer for Madison County at the buzzer to pull the Red Raiders within 33-23 at halftime.<br /> <br /> The Red Raiders scored first to open the third quarter on a basket by Golston Gillespie to close within 33-25. But Cockfield scored 11 consecutive points in a 1:22 span to blow the game open for a 44-25 lead. <br /> <br /> Cockfield started the run with a fastbreak basket, converted a rare four-point play, and then hit another trey moments later. After a Madison County timeout, Cockfield finished the run with another layup.<br /> <br /> "I never like to have things come to that point but we couldn't get any of the other guys to really get involved," Steele said. "We need our role players to step up every game if we really want to have a chance to do something."<br /> <br /> Only six Knights would score on the night. Cockfield finished with a game-high 32 points and five assists to pace Johnson. Rod English added 12 points and Andrew Sims had eight points and eight rebounds for the Knights.<br /> <br /> Madison County did not get closer than the final score the rest of the way. The Red Raiders cut it to 60-40 early in the fourth quarter but Johnson made sure there would be no comeback answering with an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to put the game out of reach. Madison County outscored the Johnson reserves 10-0 over the final two minutes.<br /> <br /> Freeman led Madison County with 21 points, but had just four in the second half. He did not play in the fourth quarter.<br /> <br /> <b>Madison Co. girls 61<br /> Johnson 30</b><br /> <br /> Madison County used a 10-0 spurt as part of a larger 17-2 run over the final five minutes of the first quarter en route to the win in both teams' Region 8-AAAA opener.<br /> <br /> The Lady Red Raiders (8-7, 1-0 Region 8-AAAA) eventually took a 21-5 lead after the first quarter and then held the Lady Knights (4-10, 0-1) to just four points in the second quarter while building a 37-9 halftime lead.<br /> <br /> Johnson never led but trailed just 2-1 and 4-3 early until Madison County forced five consecutive turnovers and turning them into baskets to take control of the game.<br /> <br /> Madison County led 59-23 at the end of the third quarter and would push its lead to as many as 38 three times in the fourth quarter.<br /> <br /> Christian Carruth paced Madison County with 22 points. Mya Moss added 14 for the Lady Red Raiders.<br /> <br /> Johnson was led by nine points from Kimmie Brady. Sarah Williams and Leslie Ulloa each had seven points for the Lady Knights.<br /> <br /> Both teams will be back in action on Saturday with Madison County playing host to Oconee County and the Knights playing host to West Hall in the Battle of Oakwood.