Statesboro looked to have the upper hand all night, but Greenbrier never gave in. The Wolf Pack erased a late deficit with an 8-0 run, and even after a last second Blue Devil 3-pointer forced overtime, Greenbrier was able to pull out the win, slipping away with a 75-71 win Tuesday night at the Devil’s Den.
    For Statesboro, the loss marks its second consecutive region setback.
    “It definitely hurts,” said SHS coach Lee Hill. “We’re not used to losing two in a row in the region. I can’t even remember the last time that it happened. We just have to work harder and do better next time.”
    After matching points through the first three minutes of overtime, Dijon Britton broke free off of an inbound play and scored an easy layup to but the Wolf Pack ahead for good.
    The Blue Devils had a chance to force a second overtime in the final ten seconds, but Jaqawn Raymond was a bit too long on his 3-point attempt and Justin Cofer (14 points) sealed the game, hitting a free throw with just 4.1 seconds to play.
    The drama was just as heavy in the final seconds of regulation.
    Trailing 63-58, Greenbrier rattled off eight strait points to take a 66-63 lead. With under 20 seconds to play, Raymond couldn’t get through a double team, but found Yakeem Coleman who connected from 28 feet as the clock ran out.
    “I saw that (Raymond) was in trouble,” said Coleman. “I found a spot, and it felt good as soon as I let it go.”
    Despite Coleman’s heroics, the Wolf Pack maintained momentum into overtime and were able to outlast Statesboro.
    Chad Waddell led all scorers with 24 points and was one of four Greenbrier players to reach double digits.
    Raymond paced the Devils with 20 points.
    The Wolf Pack jumped out to the early lead as Waddell scored five quick points to spur a 10-4 run to open the game.
    Statesboro regrouped and Raymond’s floater at the end of the first quarter started an 11-2 run that featured eight of freshman Zaquavian Smith’s 19 points and put the Devils in front.
    The Wolf Pack managed to tie the score just once more — early in the third quarter — before staging its late rally.

Lady Blue Devils 59, Lady Wolf Pack 17
    It was another dominating performance for the Statesboro girls as they thrashed Greenbrier to the tune of a 59-17 win Tuesday evening.
    The Lady Blue Devils (14-3, 4-0 Region 2-AAAA) dominated from the opening tip as their offense quickly started to click and the defense suffocated the Lady Wolf Pack (2-10, 0-4). Statesboro conceding only a Casey Rowland free throw in the first eight minutes to build a 14-1 lead.
    Statesboro leading scorer Alisia Jenkins took over in the first half to help build the advantage.
    The junior forward was 4-for-5 from the floor and added a pair of free throws to notch 10 of her 16 points as the Devils cruised into halftime with a 26-5 lead.
    Sierra Kirkland — Statesboro’s other imposing forward — picked up right where Jenkins left off. Kirkland scored the first six points of the second half to fuel a 16-2 Blue Devil run to begin the second half. Kirkland finished the night with 12 points.
    Constant defensive pressure led to numerous Greenbrier turnovers and subsequent Statesboro baskets. The Devils had already salted the game away, building a 48-13 advantage after the third quarter, and the mercy clock ticked off the game’s final minutes.
   
    Mike Anthony can be reached at (912) 489-9404.