Statesboro made a statement Tuesday night — and Greenbrier was the unlucky recipient.
The Lady Blue Devils (16-3, 4-1 Region 3-AAAA) exploded in the second half to run away from the visiting Wolfpack, 55-40.
Greenbrier, which entered the contest at 22-0, had beaten SHS 50-49 earlier in the season in Augusta. This night, Monnette Bennett and the Devils made sure GHS didn’t walk away with a season sweep.
“All this week all we talked about is beating Greenbrier,” said Bennett, who put up 31. “Ever since we lost to them the first time (Jan. 4), that’s all we’ve been thinking about is coming back and getting them the second time. Tonight we gave it all that we had — we just had heart and we wanted it more.”
Statesboro may have wanted it more, but its defensive effort proved to be the difference as GHS shot just 35 percent from the floor and 3-for-13 from behind the arc. Two of those 3s came in the last four minutes.
“It’s just a matter of hustle and want-to,” said SHS coach Jeff Seier. “Tonight we knew we had to get a hand in their face and try to shut them down. Great jobs by our girls.”
The teams were tied at 25 entering the third quarter, but SHS outscored Greenbrier 19-4 in the pivotal period. Greenbrier shot just 2 of 12 from the field and Bennett scored nine of her 31.
The Georgia Tech commit broke Greenbrier’s back on a fast break in which she pulled up at the block, spun and sank a jumper — plus a foul. The visiting fans from suburban Augusta just shook their heads. The home crowd loved it.
The Devils then used the fourth quarter to spread the court, using a four-corner/weave/keep-away offense which tired out the girls from GHS. Statesboro led by as many as 19 at one point.
“We came out ready to play,” said point guard Victoria Mikell, who scored 13 points. “They blew us out last year and we made some stupid mistakes last time we played them (this year), but we knew what we had to lose and knew what we had to get.”
The win moved SHS half a game back of the Pack, who fell to 5-1 in Region 3-AAAA.
“They’re a good ball club — a real, real good ball club,” said Seier. “It’s really not a matter of revenge but going out and beating a really good ball club. It gives us a big boost.”
The Lady Devils shocked Greenbrier with a 17-6 first-quarter start behind Bennett’s 10 points. Mikell propelled the run with six straight then Bennett banked in a 3 from the right wing to the roar of the crowd. GHS turned the ball over 10 times in the first period and 21 times for the game.
The Wolfpack woke up in the second frame, shooting 6-for-12 from the field. Kaila Hunt pulled Greenbrier within four with a steal and a 3-point play at 17-13.
Sara Oland hit Greenbrier’s first 3 a few minutes later. Oland then scored on a long outlet pass to bring the game within two, then stole the ensuing inbounds pass and scored to tie the game going into the half. Greenbrier’s only lead was at 2-0.
Oland led GHS with 13 points, 11 of which came in the second. Tiffany Lee had nine points and six rebounds for the Devils.
Statesboro 54,
Greenbrier 46
Statesboro held visiting Greenbrier to 26 percent shooting in the fourth quarter, grinding out a 54-46 win behind the play of Mario Jackson and Rashad Lee and some hometown officiating.
The two squads changed leads 12 times until Statesboro (10-9, 4-1 Region 3-AAAA) took hold at 28-27 and began to pull away. The Blue Devils built a 39-33 lead after three and only let Greenbrier (8-15, 2-4) get as close as five in the fourth.
“Coach (Lee Hill) got on us in the second half that we had to pick it up since it was a big region game,” said Jackson, who had 20 points to lead all scorers. “We just weren’t moving our feet and weren’t playing ‘D’.”
A Bryan Andrews’ 3 ball put the Wolfpack down 41-36 with 5:28 to go, but GHS struggled to score thereafter, shooting just 4-for-15 and 2-for-7 from behind the arc.
Lee, a senior forward, had a double-double with 15 rebounds and 10 points. Eric Ferguson added 14 for SHS.
SHS led 26-25 at the break, thanks in part to Jackson’s 3-for-3 effort from 3-point range in the first half. Greenbrier frustrated the once again short-handed Devils with a 2-3 zone all night. Sophomore starter Theo Rich dressed but did not play.
Statesboro goes back on the road Friday, traveling to Lakeside. The girls tip at 5 p.m. with the boys to follow.
Chad Bishop can be reached at (912) 489-9408.
The Lady Blue Devils (16-3, 4-1 Region 3-AAAA) exploded in the second half to run away from the visiting Wolfpack, 55-40.
Greenbrier, which entered the contest at 22-0, had beaten SHS 50-49 earlier in the season in Augusta. This night, Monnette Bennett and the Devils made sure GHS didn’t walk away with a season sweep.
“All this week all we talked about is beating Greenbrier,” said Bennett, who put up 31. “Ever since we lost to them the first time (Jan. 4), that’s all we’ve been thinking about is coming back and getting them the second time. Tonight we gave it all that we had — we just had heart and we wanted it more.”
Statesboro may have wanted it more, but its defensive effort proved to be the difference as GHS shot just 35 percent from the floor and 3-for-13 from behind the arc. Two of those 3s came in the last four minutes.
“It’s just a matter of hustle and want-to,” said SHS coach Jeff Seier. “Tonight we knew we had to get a hand in their face and try to shut them down. Great jobs by our girls.”
The teams were tied at 25 entering the third quarter, but SHS outscored Greenbrier 19-4 in the pivotal period. Greenbrier shot just 2 of 12 from the field and Bennett scored nine of her 31.
The Georgia Tech commit broke Greenbrier’s back on a fast break in which she pulled up at the block, spun and sank a jumper — plus a foul. The visiting fans from suburban Augusta just shook their heads. The home crowd loved it.
The Devils then used the fourth quarter to spread the court, using a four-corner/weave/keep-away offense which tired out the girls from GHS. Statesboro led by as many as 19 at one point.
“We came out ready to play,” said point guard Victoria Mikell, who scored 13 points. “They blew us out last year and we made some stupid mistakes last time we played them (this year), but we knew what we had to lose and knew what we had to get.”
The win moved SHS half a game back of the Pack, who fell to 5-1 in Region 3-AAAA.
“They’re a good ball club — a real, real good ball club,” said Seier. “It’s really not a matter of revenge but going out and beating a really good ball club. It gives us a big boost.”
The Lady Devils shocked Greenbrier with a 17-6 first-quarter start behind Bennett’s 10 points. Mikell propelled the run with six straight then Bennett banked in a 3 from the right wing to the roar of the crowd. GHS turned the ball over 10 times in the first period and 21 times for the game.
The Wolfpack woke up in the second frame, shooting 6-for-12 from the field. Kaila Hunt pulled Greenbrier within four with a steal and a 3-point play at 17-13.
Sara Oland hit Greenbrier’s first 3 a few minutes later. Oland then scored on a long outlet pass to bring the game within two, then stole the ensuing inbounds pass and scored to tie the game going into the half. Greenbrier’s only lead was at 2-0.
Oland led GHS with 13 points, 11 of which came in the second. Tiffany Lee had nine points and six rebounds for the Devils.
Statesboro 54,
Greenbrier 46
Statesboro held visiting Greenbrier to 26 percent shooting in the fourth quarter, grinding out a 54-46 win behind the play of Mario Jackson and Rashad Lee and some hometown officiating.
The two squads changed leads 12 times until Statesboro (10-9, 4-1 Region 3-AAAA) took hold at 28-27 and began to pull away. The Blue Devils built a 39-33 lead after three and only let Greenbrier (8-15, 2-4) get as close as five in the fourth.
“Coach (Lee Hill) got on us in the second half that we had to pick it up since it was a big region game,” said Jackson, who had 20 points to lead all scorers. “We just weren’t moving our feet and weren’t playing ‘D’.”
A Bryan Andrews’ 3 ball put the Wolfpack down 41-36 with 5:28 to go, but GHS struggled to score thereafter, shooting just 4-for-15 and 2-for-7 from behind the arc.
Lee, a senior forward, had a double-double with 15 rebounds and 10 points. Eric Ferguson added 14 for SHS.
SHS led 26-25 at the break, thanks in part to Jackson’s 3-for-3 effort from 3-point range in the first half. Greenbrier frustrated the once again short-handed Devils with a 2-3 zone all night. Sophomore starter Theo Rich dressed but did not play.
Statesboro goes back on the road Friday, traveling to Lakeside. The girls tip at 5 p.m. with the boys to follow.
Chad Bishop can be reached at (912) 489-9408.
