Tiftarea splits nail-biters with SGA

Dec. 3—CHULA — Tiftarea Academy's Lady Panthers survived a big comeback Dec. 2. The Panthers almost completed one. The results saw nearly two identical scores, Tiftarea's girls defeating Southwest Georgia Academy, 55-52, while the boys fell by a 53-52 finish.

Back-to-back three-pointers by Jolee Paulk gave the Lady Panthers a 51-35 lead with 5:41 remaining in the contest.

However SGA, which entered with a 2-0 record, scored 10 straight points in a span of 70 seconds, five of them from Anna Dozier. At 2:14, the score was cut to 51-45.

Tiftarea got free throws from Grace Odom and Livi Mullis to lift it back to a nine-point advantage, but here came Dozier again, hitting a three with 28 seconds to go.

Ali Strenth made one of two at the free throw line at 22 seconds, but Ella Ashley responded with a 3-pointer and it was 55-51 with 13 ticks on the clock

SGA came up with a steal in the backcourt and was fouled under the goal with seven seconds remaining. Ashley made the second of the two shots.

Tiftarea missed two at the line with five seconds. The Lady Warriors grabbed a rebound, but fumbled it harmlessly away as the horn sounded.

The Lady Panthers played a physical game against Southwest Georgia. Head coach Rob Flick said it served them well against the equally physical visiting team from Damascus.

Tiftarea was down four points in the first 30 seconds of the evening, but went on a 15-2 run to end the quarter.

Elli Bryan, Mullis and Paulk all hit from behind the arc in the 1st period. Besides their ability to shoot, the Lady Panthers were not going to be rattled. SGA ran a press for much of the 1st, but had to abandon it after it got no results.

There was also the matter of rebounds. Flick was impressed that his players swooped up most of the boards. Ten of their first half points were the direct result of offensive rebounds.

The 2nd quarter was a Tiftarea explosion putting them up 32-16 at intermission. Going 9-of-13 at the free throw line, it seemed like nearly everything the squad threw up went in.

Isabel Fernandez turned a steal into points, Paulk hit a jumper and with time ticking down, Lexi Connell put a rebound back n for two more.

The lead stayed around 16 points for most of the 3rd, peaking at 17 — 41-24 — with Elaine Mercer's three throws at 1:34. Ashley and Devyn Bennett sparked a brief 5-0 SGA run late to whittle it to 42-31 heading into the 4th.

Bennett's 3 early in the 4th cut it a bit closer at 43-34, but it seemed like that magic ended completely in the matter of three possessions.

Bryan dished to a wide open Paulk in the corner for three-pointer. SGA almost immediately was called for double dribble and on the trip back down the floor, Paulk was left alone again in the spot and she split the nets again to make it 51-35.

Bryan led a balanced Tiftarea lineup with 13 points. Mullis and Paulk scored 11 each and Odom, who played most of the 4th quarter with four fouls, scored 9.

Bennett scored 17 points for SGA, with Ashley at 12 and Dozier with 10.

SGA 53, PANTHERS 52

They almost had it.

Carter Cook nailed a corner 3 with 1:01 remaining in the 4th quarter, Tiftarea's first lead of the night at 51-50, barring the basket by Raj Singh that made it 2-0.

The Panthers expanded it to 52-50 with 47 seconds left. Unfortunately, they couldn't hit the free throw, or on a one-and-one opportunity with 12 seconds.

With that opening, the Warriors went to Lenton Jernigan under the basket. Not only did he tie the game with five seconds left, but he was fouled and hit the additional free throw.

That was the winning margin for the game. It was a tough loss for the Panthers (0-2), but a long way from three nights earlier, when Windsor won by 41 points.

"A moral win," said head coach Stanton Moore. "I'm proud of my boys."

For Tiftarea to have a chance at winning, much less be within striking distance was an incredible climb for a deep hole.

SGA was ahead 20-6 at the end of the 1st frame. It was barely better going into the 4th, 45-32.

The spark that started the comeback was small, as they often are.

Singh scored 17 seconds into the 4th. The run inched along, nine points in four minutes. Hall made a 3. Crosson scored four.

It was slow, but slower were the Warriors. They didn't score in those four minutes, which allowed Tiftarea to be down 45-41.

Jernigan scored for the visitors, then it was Cook with a deep 3-pointer. 47-44.

Thad Beckley and J.R. Walker traded buckets. At 2:12, Hall came within a point, 49-48. Bad news happened when Walker fouled out, but SGA scored on only one of the free shots.

The Panthers nearly had a tie, but the points were wiped out on a charge. However, the Warriors couldn't do anything and a rebound resulted in a quick pass to Cook and the lead at 51-50.

"Huge shot by Carter," said Moore.

Moore said he saw much improvement between games and reported a good practice on Wednesday that got them on track. He said his seniors were very important in this contest.

Southwest Georgia's quickness was a big obstacle for the Panthers in the 1st half.

After Singh's bucket, the Warriors wracked up 10 points before Hall provided a response.

Backdoor cuts were SGA's specialty and they went to them time and time again. Jernigan scored 10 points in the 1st quarter. Grayson Cox had eight points in the first 16 minutes.

Tiftarea did outscore their guests in the 2nd, 19-15 to be down 35-25 at the half.

The 2nd quarter saw Cubbie Crosson and Cook step up big.

Cook began the period with a steal and basket. Crosson began making himself an inside and outside threat. They combined for 12 of the points in the 2nd.

Hall's 15 paced the Panthers, with 12 points coming from Crosson, 11 from Cook and 8 from Singh.

Jordan scored 18 for SGA, with Cox providing 10 more.

Tiftarea's next game will be Dec. 6, at home against Citizens Christian.