The Long County High School varsity boys basketball team picked up their seventh win in a row Saturday.

Taking on next-door rival, Wayne County High School, the Blue Tide defeated the Yellow Jackets, 76-62, in a game which was closer than the score indicated.

The Jackets surprised everyone by jumping out in front 19-15 in the first quarter. However, in the second period, led by Justin Boyd sinking two 3-pointers, Long County tied the game. So they went in at the half all even, 32-32.

In the third quarter, the Blue and White began to pull away, as Jimmy Bacon asserted his will over the Yellow and Black defenders. The senior added 9 more points to his total. Going into the final period the Ludowici team was up 52-44.

In the fourth, the Tide appeared to have the fresher legs, and with 4:30 left in the game they led 64-51. Bacon continued to wow the crowd, as he slam-dunked two baskets, and when all was said and done, Long County had managed a convincing 76-62 victory.

Eli Guest had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Boyd showed his presence in all aspects of the game with 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 steals.

Bacon was once again the big man on the court with 4 blocked shots, 20 rebounds, and 32 points.

"I’m proud of our defensive play tonight. We played disciplined basketball, and that’s what I want to see", said Blue Tide head coach Deshon Brock.

He added, "We had a couple of players who did what they do, but tonight’s win was a result of a total team effort."

Brock also praised the Yellow Jackets, saying, "Wayne put up a real gutty performance. They maximized their talent, and as they always do, they executed well; a credit to their coach and players".

With the win the Tide improved their overall record to 9-5.

The top four teams in the 2-AA standings are Tattnall County (11-5) at 7-1, Benedictine Military Academy (10-3) at 6-2, and Long County (9-5) and McIntosh County (10-4) at 5-2.

Tuesday, the Blue Tide took on Jeff Davis High School, who was 8-7 overall and 4-3 in the region. Results for that game were not available in time for this story.

On Friday, Long County faces a big test when Benedictine Military Academy comes to town. The Cadets are in second place in the region. The game pits the best defense in the 2-AA Region against the best offense in the region.

Benedictine is only allowing 43 points a night, while they are only putting 55 points.

Long County, on the other hand, is putting up 73 points a game, but allowing 63 points.

Friday’s game is in Ludowici, and it starts at 7:30 p.m.

In the JV game, the Wayne County boys beat the Long County underclassmen, 52-39. Justin Johnson led the Blue Tide in scoring with 20 points.

Lady Tide

The Long County girls varsity team got back on the winning track on Saturday, with a determined win over Wayne County.

In a packed and rocking LCHS gymnasium, the Lady Tide defeated the Lady Yellow Jackets, 57-48.

In the first period Long County’s Brittany Mills put up 5 points and Shareka Turner added 4, to give the home team a 9-8 lead. In the second quarter, Turner added 4more, as did India Gamble and Caela La Rochester, giving the Blue Tide a 24-21 lead going into the half.

In the third, Gamble continued to have the hot hand as she put up two big 3-pointers, but the Lady Jackets also got hot and out scored the Blue Tide ladies 17 to 12 to go into the final period leading 38-36.

In the final quarter, the Blue and White had an 11-0 run, and outscored the visiting team 19 to 12. One of the key players in the period was Shanetra Quarterman who made 7 of 8 crucial free throws to seal the Long County win, 57-48.

Gamble, Quarterman, and Mills had 12 points, while Turner had 15 points.

"The ladies played four quarters of basketball, and I am very pleased with their effort", said Lady Tide head coach, Ryan Bailey.

He added, "I’m also real pleased with how Rhea Rose stepped up in this game. She made some key rebounds which were big for us; we are definitely improving in each game, and the ladies are getting tougher as the season goes on".

As of Jan. 20 in the 2-AA Region Brantley County was on top with a (13-2) 7-2 record, while the Lady Tide (7-7), Jeff Davis County (11-4), and Pierce County (7-5) were tied for second with 5-2 records.

The Long girls took on Jeff Davis last night, but results for the game were not available in time for this story.

This Friday, the Lady Tide has St. Vincent’s Academy come to town, and the visitors will be trying to pull the upset and pick up their fifth win of the year.

The Saints currently are 4-8 overall and 2-5 in 2-AA Region. They are scoring 37 points a night, and giving up 42 points.

The Lady Tide, on the other hand, are scoring 47 a night, and giving up 52. That game starts at 6 p.m.