HOMER — Defending Class 2A state champion South Atlanta entered its second round battle with Banks County as the classification’s leader in scoring and defense.
The Leopards held the Hornets under their season average (76 points per game) and also managed more than the 57 points per game South Atlanta was allowing on the season.
It still wasn’t enough, however, as the Hornets used their defensive quickness in the final two minutes to shake off the Leopards for a 72-60 victory at the Banks County gym.
“They’re the defending state champions for a reason,” a dejected Banks County coach Mike Cleveland said afterwards. “(South Atlanta) is athletic and gifted and their speed played a big part. But I’m proud of how our guys kept battling back.”
In the fourth quarter South Atlanta (25-4) held 10-point leads three separate times but Banks County (24-5) chipped away each time, eventually climbing within 62-57 with 1:37 remaining on a pair of Boscoe Norman free throws.
But the Hornets showed why they are the defending champions in using their speedy press to swipe three steals over the next minute culminating in three fastbreak baskets, including dunks by JaQuavian Florence and Davis Gary, to push the lead to 70-57 with 37 seconds left and essentially seal the Leopards' fate.
“We kept plugging away and got within five there, but they are so quick on defense. We just couldn't get over the hump. They can just turn you over in a hurry,” Cleveland said.
Banks County never led but went toe-to-toe with the defending champs in the first quarter. The Leopards never led and managed just one tie -- 5-5 on a 3-pointer by Carl Cleveland in the first two minutes -- only to see South Atlanta commence a 10-4 run fueled by three Banks County turnovers over the next four minutes. The Leopards responded with five consecutive points by Gabe Martin, including a 3-pointer to pull within 15-14 at the end of the quarter, but that’s as close as they would get the rest of the way.
In the second quarter the Hornets began to use their pressure defense to create fastbreak opportunities. A Dylan Orr dunk pulled Banks County within 23-18 with 5:06 remaining in the half, but South Atlanta induced six more Banks County miscues and turned those into eight points as they ran out to a 34-23 advantage. Another Martin 3-pointer with 39 seconds left got the Leopards within 34-28 by halftime.
The Hornets, however, stormed out of the intermission going on a 7-0 run in the first 3:34 to sprint out to a 41-26 lead, their biggest of the game. But Banks County answered back with a 9-2 spurt to get back within 43-35 and trailed 48-40 heading into the final period.
A key for the Hornets defense was shadowing sophomore Carl Cleveland the entire game. Already slowed by a sprained ankle suffered last week, Cleveland managed just three of his team-high 17 points in the fourth quarter.
“He gave it all he had but you could tell by the fourth quarter that (Carl) wasn’t as quick as he normally is,” Mike Cleveland said. “Boscoe gave us some good minutes, and the guys battled but you can’t run with them, and you can’t make mistakes.”
Seniors Martin and Orr each poured in 14 points in their final games for the Leopards. Senior Darius Bonds added 8 points in his final game and Norman finished with 7 points, all in the fourth quarter.
Jalen Stegall paced South Atlanta with 17 points. Florence had 16 points and Dondre Barnes 15 for the Hornets.
South Atlanta moves on to play Laney in the quarterfinals.
