Bradwell Institute swept a pair of hard-fought games from in-county rival Liberty County on Saturday, with the girls pulling away in the second half for a 6033 win and the Tigers boys outlasting the homestanding Panthers 61-52 before a packed LCHS gym.
Both Bradwell teams were playing their third game in four nights, but freshman Chris Perry’s hot hand helped keep the Tigers within striking distance of the Panthers.
The Tigers opened their biggest lead of the first half, 17-12, on Perry’s second 3-pointer. Liberty answered with a run of its own, taking a 30-27 lead on Marcus Wilson’s fallaway just before halftime.
Tahshaun Frazier’s 3 tied the game to start the third quarter and Perry buried another triple to put the Tigers back in front. From there, the two teams traded the lead six times in the third quarter alone.
Jamal Jackson got back-to- back buckets and Perry’s slam helped forge a 3934 lead. Liberty’s Ja’Mere Martin answered with consecutive 3s.
After Wilson connected on another fallaway to open the fourth quarter, putting the Panthers ahead 44-43, the Tigers went on a 15-4 run. Jackson’s three-point play with 6:35 to go put the Tigers in front to stay.
Bradwell led by as much as 10, 59-48, on a Ja’mar Price 3 and Perry’s cleanup bucket following an Elyjah Thurmon steal at the other end. Liberty crept back within six on four straight free throws from Elijah Brown and Joshua Smith. Thurmon, though, sealed the win with another bucket inside.
Perry had a game-high 21 points, connecting on five 3-point shots. He was named the winner of the Davion Mitchell Award as the game’s most valuable player.
Jackson and Thurman had 11 points each, and Frasier had 10.
Brown had 15 points to lead the Panthers, and Wilson added 14.
The Panthers, now 1-5, are taking part in a Christmas tournament. Bradwell, 5-3, hosts Griffin on December 28 and Camden County on December 29.
Girls
The Bradwell Institute Lady Tigers shook off a sluggish start against cross-town rival Liberty County on Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Tigers, ranked No. 4 among teams in Class AAAAA, used a 17-2 run to close out the first half and posted a 6033 win over the Lady Panthers in front of a packed LCHS gym.
Bradwell improved to 9-1, while Liberty fell to 3-3.
Liberty’s Lyric McIver and Dallas Spencer each had two baskets to push the Lady Panthers to a 14-6 first-quarter lead. They held the Lady Tigers to just one field goal for a stretch of 6:26 after Taniyah Bowman opened the game with a three-point play. Bowman ended the quarter with a 3, banking it in from well behind the arc.
Alysia Estrada and Parris Parham sparked the second quarter with a 3-pointer each, and Bowman’s steal and driving basket pushed Bradwell’s lead to 26-18 at the half.
Bailey Gilmore opened the second-half scoring with a putback, and Parham buried another 3 as the lead swelled to 39-19.
Bradwell’s Ta’tyana Anderson was named winner of the Delisha Milton Trophy, given to the most valuable player in the girls game. Anderson, Bowman and Parham had 15 points each to pace the Lady Tigers. Gilmore also had 10 rebounds, while Bowman registered six assists and five steals.
Asia Johnson led the Lady Panthers with eight points.
Bradwell will host Griffin on December 28 and Claxton on December 29. Liberty County is taking part in the McIntosh County Academy Holiday Tournament through Wednesday.
