There can be only one and, for now, the one in the boy’s 2-AA Region standings is Long County.
With a difficult 69-66 win over McIntosh County Saturday, the Blue Tide moved into the region’s top spot. Now the No. 10 team in the state looks to hold onto that spot with only one region game. It’s on Friday. The boys played Appling County last night, but results for that game were not available in time for this story.
In Saturday’s game against the Bucs, the lead went back and fourth. At the end of the first quarter it was the Blue on top 13-10, but by the half the boys from Darien had fought back to tie 24-24. In the third period, McIntosh was even more aggressive and took the lead at the end of three, 49-48.
The final period seemed to be more of a boxing match than a high school basketball game.
Through the first six minutes of the quarter the Blue Tide was led by Justin Boyd and Norman Thompson, sinking 3-pointers as the home team went on a 15-2 run. With less than four minutes left, Long County was up 63-51.
But the Bucs showed why they are one of the best teams in the 2-AA Region with their own 15-3 run. With 32 seconds left, the Tide had a 69-66 lead.
McIntosh County did get the ball with 17 seconds, but couldn’t score.
In the game, Justin Boyd had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Jimmy Bacon had 12 points and 10 rebounds, Norman Thompson added 14 points and 5 assists, and Ricky Rivera had 13 points and 4 steals.
With the win, Long County record goes to 16-5 overall and 12-2 in the region, followed by Tattnall County (16-8) a half game back at 12-3, and McIntosh County (16-6) now in the third spot at 11-3.
This Friday, the boys play their last region game against Jeff Davis County, who has a 6-8 region mark and a 10-12 overall record. That game is in Hazlehurst and starts at 7:30 p.m.
Lady Tide
The Long County girls picked up their 11th win in their last 13 games Friday with a solid defeat of the McIntosh County girls.
The game was close all night, and with 6 minutes left the Blue and White had a 41-39 lead over their Red and Gold rivals.
But something happened to Long County High, and the Lady Tide went on a 17-2 run over the final 6 minutes to pick up the win 58-41.
In the game, Caela LaRochester, India Gamble and Shanetra Quarterman, all had 13 points, while Brittany Mills added 11 points.
The Lady Tide (13-8) sit at number two in Region 2-AA with a 11-3 record, a half of a game behind Brantley County (18-3) at 12-3.
The girls took on Appling County (11-11 overall and 8-6 in the region) last night in Baxley, but results for that game were not available.
This Friday the Long girls take on the Lady Bears of Pierce County in Blackshear. The Bears have an 11-8 overall record and 9-5 region mark; that game starts at 6 p.m.