Long County used aggressive defense and solid free throw shooting to beat Bradwell Institute 77-62 in a non-region matchup Saturday in Ludowici.

The Blue Tide sank 30 of 41 free throws in the contest. They also kept defensive pressure on the Tigers throughout much of the game.

"Our defense played with the tempo to our liking tonight," Long County coach Deshon Brock said. "Also, free throws have been our Achilles’ heel all year…so that was much better. Overall we just played good team basketball tonight."

The Blue Tide opened the game on a 7-2 run but BI fought back and pulled within 10-9 halfway through the first period.

But 3-point baskets from Jarquez Payne and Robert Reed sparked Long to a 21-18 lead at the end of the period. The Tide opened the second quarter on a on a 9-0 run to extend the lead to 30-18 and led BI 37-25 at halftime.

The Blue Tide led 52-44 at the end of the third period, but six points by Bradwell’s Javante’ Richey helped pull the Tigers to 58-53 with just under six minutes left to play.

It was almost all Long County from there, as the Blue Tide finished the game on a 19-9 run.

"Intensity was the difference in the game," Bradwell coach Pete Woodard said. "They came out early and we couldn’t match their intensity. In the third and to start the fourth we played hard and made a run as it shifted our way, but then in the middle of the fourth the intensity swung back in their direction. We played well in spurts, but our defense wasn’t there tonight like it should have been."

Long County’s Robert Reed led all scorers with 17 points. Henry Peoples finished with 16 points, Jaylan Futch added 13 and Chris LaRochester had 12.

Richey scored 11 points and Miguel Pineda had nine for the Tigers, who dropped to 2-14 overall.

The Blue Tide improved to 7-10. Both teams played Tuesday night.