HOMER — Social Circle came into Friday’s showdown with Banks County and the Region 8-2A title up for grabs sporting the region’s best defense allowing just 43.6 points a game.
It was no match for Carl Cleveland and the Leopards offense.
Cleveland, a Young Harris-commit, recorded his fifth triple-double of the season with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists to lead Banks County to an impressive 72-52 win over the Redskins at a packed Banks County gym.
The win clinched the regular-season title for Banks County (21-4, 12-2 Region 8-2A), which swept the Redskins (19-6, 12-2 Region 8-2A) in two their meetings to earn the tiebreaker. It also earned them an automatic berth in the Class 2A state playoffs.
Despite torching the Redskins for a season-high in points, the offensive explosion was not what impressed Banks County coach Mike Cleveland the most.
“First of all, just a great atmosphere by our fans,” Cleveland said. “We played well on offense. But to me, I thought it was our defensive play that was huge.
“We were able to make them work for shots, we rebounded well, and we got some baskets off turnovers that really helped us get going. It was senior night and we started all the seniors and they really set the tone for us.”
In fact, it was little-used senior Gavin Brown that was the biggest spark. Brown poured in a career-high 14 points, 11 coming in a critical first-half stretch with Cleveland and the Leopards offense still slow to get going.
“Gavin’s started some but I really like his energy off the bench,” Cleveland said. “He played a great game on both ends. I thought he played really well.”
The lopsided victory took time to materialize. The teams traded four lead changes in the first four minutes until a Brown 3-pointer sparked a 13-2 Leopards run that ended with another Brown trey for a 19-9 lead midway through the second quarter.
The Redskins responded with five quick points off a pair of Banks County turnovers but a Carl Cleveland 3-pointer, his only one of the half, ignited an 11-6 run over the final 4:47 for a 30-20 halftime lead.
With Cleveland in foul trouble for part of the first half, Brown picked up the slack pouring another trey and finishing with 11 points in the opening 16 minutes, which was a career-high at that point and still a half to play.
The Leopards kept the hot-shooting going to open the third quarter using a 12-3 spurt, capped by a Dakota Orr 3-pointer, for a 42-23 lead. They led by as many as 23 at 53-30 on a Cleveland drive and layup late in the third quarter.
Social Circle would make one final run at the Leopards using a 16-7 burst over the first four minutes of the fourth quarter to get within 60-49. But two Cleveland free throws and a Cleveland basket, followed by Brown’s fourth 3-pointer of the game in just over a 90-second span, snuffed out any comeback hopes for the Redskins.
“I’m really looking forward to see who steps up for us in the (Region 8-2A) tournament, which is going to be very competitive,” Cleveland said.
Orr and Pierce Marin each finished with 8 points and Orr ripped down 12 boards as well.
KJ Reed led Social with 20 points, 16 coming in the second half, and Tyrell Branch had 17 points, with 11 of those coming after intermission for the Redskins.
BANKS COUNTY GIRLS 80,
SOCIAL CIRCLE 25
Banks County never trailed and used a 20-0 second-quarter run to blow the game open.
It was a 4-2 Lady Leopards lead when they created a cushion with a 14-5 spurt and led 20-9 after the first quarter. Social Circle got a free throw to trim it to a 10-point deficit before Banks County exploded for its big run, fueled by 9 Lady Redskins turnovers that led to 14 points.
Banks Lead 50-16 at the half and held Social Circle to just 9 second-half points.
Heather Vaughn led 11 Lady Leopard scorers with 19 points. Jenna Reeves and Pollie Simpson each had 10 points and Kamryn Grier 9 points for Banks County.
Banks County girls coach Steve Shedd said they will now turn their attention to the upcoming Region 8-2A tournament. The Lady Leopards (11-14, 7-7 Region 8-2A) will go in as the No. 5 seed.
“We’re playing a little better and we’ve been very competitive for the most part with several of our losses
