RABBITTOWN, Ga. — Jamarcus Harrison wore his friend Chasen Jones’ No. 3 jersey Wednesday in the Class 3-A State Tournament.
He wore it well.
The East Hall junior guard scored a team-high 26 points to lead the Vikings to a 72-45 win over North Hall in the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs at Seth Vining gym.
“We really wanted to come out and play for him,” Harrison said. “What happened to him was tragic. Nobody his age should have to go through something like that. Nobody should have to go through that.”
Jones, the Vikings’ leading scorer, was injured in an automobile accident on Sunday and did not play.
“Jamarcus came right before we went out and asked if he could wear it,” East Hall Coach Joe Dix said. “I thought it would be appropriate. He played his butt off.”
The eighth-seeded Vikings (23-5) will face No. 9 seed Cross Creek, an 86-39 winner over LaFayette, on Saturday at East Hall.
Bray Langston scored 21 points and Jordan Richerson 10 for East Hall. The Vikings got strong play throughout the lineup. Kahlil Goss, who started in Jones’ spot, scored eight points.
“Kahlil is a force down there for us,” Dix said. “Hopefully, that will help us in the next game.”
Although East Hall and North Hall have played each other since the schools opened, they had never met in the state playoffs.
The game was close early before East Hall began pulling away late in the first half. The Vikings scored on their first five possession of the second quarter.
“In the first half, we came out and played aggressive,” Harrison said.
Harrison scored 16 points in the first half, and Langston scored 14 to spark East Hall. A thunderous Langston dunk started a run that pushed the lead to 19 points at one point. Harrison scored six points and Langston five during that stretch.
“(Harrison and Langston) are as close as brothers,” Dix said. “They were very open about taking a larger role with Chasen being out.”
North Hall tried to stay close with five first-half 3-pointers but could not keep pace.
Cole Hulsey scored 18 points to lead the Trojans (16-11). Micah Jimmerson added 10 points, and Gunner Spain had 9 points.
Both teams showed their support for Jones. The Vikings wore t-shirts that said, “Be A Beast For The Beast,” a play on Jones’ nickname The Beast.
North Hall paid tribute to Jones with t-shirts with Jones’s name and number.
“He’s out of the hospital, but there is a long road ahead,” Dix said. “He sent us a message. He told us not to worry about him and to go out and play well.”
The Vikings did just that.
