The Long County High School boys’ basketball team lost to McIntosh County Academy, 67-63, on Saturday in a Region 2-AA contest in Ludowici.
The loss snapped a three-game win streak for the Blue Tide, who came out sluggish and fell behind, 18-12, at the end of the first period but fought back in the second period.
Long County outscored the Buccaneers, 15-7, to go in at the break with a narrow lead.
In the third period, the game went back and forth, but Blue Tide mistakes and turnovers allowed the Buccaneers to score the final seven points of the quarter to take a 44-34 lead going into the final period.
In the fourth quarter, Long County’s Henry Peoples placed his team on his shoulders, scoring 12 points and making several big steals. His layup with 35 seconds left in the game tied the score, 63-63.
But MCA scored the final four points to secure the win.
The Tide had four players score in double digits, and Peoples led the way with 24. Jarquez Payne and Josh Berry each added 11, and Jamal Anderson scored 10 points.
Ben Rogers led McIntosh County with 19 points.
After the game, Blue Tide coach Deshon Brock was visibly upset about his team’s performance. “We got frustrated and let them have the game. This game was lost due to our mental mistakes, and that’s really all there is to say,” Brock said.
The loss ended a three-game win streak for the Blue Tide, who now are 5-5 overall and 3-2 in Region 2-AA.  McIntosh County improved to 4-6 overall and 4-2 in the region.
Although the varsity boys lost their game, the night was a little brighter for the younger boys as the Blue Tide junior varsity team defeated the JV Bucs, 50-44.
Long County is off until Jan. 3, when the team travels to Tattnall County. The Battle Creek Warriors currently have a 6-3 overall record and a 4-1 region record. That game is at 6 p.m. in Reidsville.