JEFFERSON, Ga. — Cherokee Bluff’s run at the top of the Class 3A rankings, and their 12-game win streak, both came to an abrupt end Friday night.
But it took two overtimes for No. 12 Jefferson to pull off a thrilling 86-85 Region 8-3A upset victory at The Arena.
The Dragons got it done using a tough defensive effort, including forcing 10 Bluff turnovers in the two overtimes. The final blow came when they got a steal and driving basket from DeShaun Keith with 8 seconds left for the eventual game-winner.
But they had to survive three 3-point attempts by the Bears in the final 8 seconds to force a three-way tie atop the region standings.
“In this region, I mean, you gotta bring it every night,” Jefferson coach Kevin Morris said. “We feel like our strength is our defense. I feel like the longer the game goes, the better chance we have because of our depth.
“(Bluff) is a great shooting team. They didn't shoot it very well tonight and I think we're part of the reason for that.”
A huge key was holding Tyler Underwood to just 12 points, and only four after the first quarter. Underwood and Boston Kersh, who poured in a game-high 38 points, both would foul out on consecutive possessions in the first overtime. The Bears scored just 10 the rest of the way after leading 75-72.
“(Underwood) does so many things for them, especially handling the ball,” Morris said. “I really thought (Keith) and Josiah (Morris) did a great job all night, especially against him.”
The Bears (18-2, 4-1 Region 8-3A) were fortunate just to get to the overtimes. They trailed 67-62 with 52 seconds left in regulation but Kersh’s 25-foot, fade-away 3-pointer at the buzzer sent it to the first extra frame tied at 69.
In the first OT, the Bears jumped out to a quick 75-69 lead but would watch it dwindle after Kersh and Underwood were forced to watch from the bench. Jefferson missed four free throws in the period but forced five Bluff turnovers after Underwood fouled out to stay alive.
But after Karter Shields and Morris hit four free throws for a 79-76 lead, the Bears needed a running 3-pointer from Alex Blurton with 2 seconds left to go to a second OT tied at 79.
But Bluff’s luck would run out in the second overtime. The Bears led 85-82 after a Andy Quirarte basket with 1:08 left but would not score again.
"I just told the guys to keep playing and not worry about what had already happened," Morris said. "They did a good job of doing that. They've kind of been that way all year."
Cherokee Bluff opened the game with a 10-2 run behind 7 points from Kersh but Jefferson answered back with an 11-5 spurt to get within 15-13 at one point, capped by a pair of free throws from Christian Hester. The Bears took a 19-15 lead into the second quarter on a buzzer-beater from Kersh but then the defenses took over.
The two teams combined for just one Jefferson free throw over the first 3 minutes of the period. Connor Robinson ended the drought with a long 3-pointer, followed by another bucket from Kersh as they ran out to a 24-16 lead.
The Dragons again answered, with two 3-pointers from Clay Owen, to get back within 26-24. Robinson hit another trey late in the period that eventually gave Bluff a 29-24 halftime lead.7
Jefferson showed that balance with four players in double figures. Owen led the way with 19 points and Hester finished with 17. Keith and Morris each had 13 points and Cevin Nicely added 9 off the bench.
After Kersh and Underwood, Robinson ended the night with 14 points, including four 3-pointers, for Bluff. Quirarte scored 8 and Blurton had all 7 of his points in the overtimes.
Bluff was playing without second-leading scorer Cooper Glover, who was out with an ankle injury. The Bears are off until next Friday when they play host to Monroe Area and Glover could be back in time for the second half of the region schedule.
Jefferson takes on Hapeville Charter at home on Monday and also returns to region action next Friday against West Hall on the road.
JEFFERSON GIRLS 70,
CHEROKEE BLUFF 58
The speed of the No. 2-ranked Lady Dragons eventually wore down the fifth-ranked Lady Bears.
Which is exactly what Jefferson coach Greg Brown was relying on. Speedy guard Emeri Billings and almost as speedy Michel Robbins combined for 28 second-half points to spark a big rally.
Billings had 17 of her team-high 21 points, including four 3-pointers, over the final 12 minutes of the game.
“No. 1, we're going to play fast. And so yes, we practice it every day, in every drill that we do,” Brown said. “Emeri’s the most consistent player we think we have. I trust her. The ball is going to be in her hands when it matters.”
Down 49-42 midway through the third quarter, Jefferson closed out the period on a 10-0 run, highlighted by consecutive 3-pointers from Billings, and then extended it to a 24-5 burst, capped by five more points from Billings, for a 66-54 lead late in the fourth.
But it was the play of Robbins and Skyler Brady in the first half that kept the Lady Dragons (15-3, 5-0 Region 8-3A) unbeaten and atop the region standings all alone after the first run through the region.
Robbins finished with 14 but also pulled down 9 rebounds to go with 3 blocks and 2 steals on defense. Brady had 11, including three 3-pointers, and dished out 5 assists. Delaney Dewitt scored all 11 of her points in the second half, and Anni Aldridge had 9 for Jefferson.
“We’ve played 18 games now and we've had eight different leading scorers,” Brown said. “That makes it hard to guard us. It could be anybody on any given night, which is what we want.”
The first half was a fast, up-and-down 16 minutes. Bluff took a quick 5-0 lead on a 3-pointer from Bristol Kersh and a basket from Halle Wilson in the opening 30 seconds. Jefferson answered with 5 points on a basket from Robbins and a trey from Brady midway through the quarter.
That would be the first of four ties over the final five minutes. Claire Carlson hit a 3-pointer for Bluff and Brady added her second 3-pointer of the period for a 14-14 draw heading into the second.
The second quarter saw six lead changes, including four on consecutive exchanged baskets, ending with a 3-pointer from Robbins for a 20-18 lead. Kersh reclaimed the lead for the Lady Bears at 23-21.
But Jefferson grabbed the lead on a 3-pointer from Aldridge and pushed the lead 28-23 on back-to-back baskets from Robbins with 2:21 left in the half. Bluff rallied to get within 32-30 at the half on a driving basket from Carlson.
The second half saw the Lady Dragons take control. Bluff did run out to a 49-42 lead with just over 3 minutes left in the third quarter on a 3-pointer by Carlson. But that would be the Lady Bears’ last lead.
Kersh finished with a game-high 22 points and Carlson had 19, including five 3-pointers, to pace Bluff. But no one else had more than 5 for the Lady Bears (14-6, 3-2 Region 8-3A) who have dropped two straight in the region.
