The Bradwell Institute boys’ basketball team won a 74-66 back-and-forth battle with Long County on Saturday in Ludowici. 
The Tigers jumped out to an early 19-10 lead, but the Blue Tide went on a 12-2 run to go up, 22-21. The Tigers took back the lead, 27-26, going into halftime.  The third period was a toss-up, and at the end of three the Blue Tide had a 46-45 lead.
In the final quarter, the Hinesville team came out smoking, outscoring Long County 15-3 to go up, 60-49, midway through the period. However, the Tide came storming back with their own 11-3 run, leaving the Tigers with a 63-60 lead with a little more than two minutes left. But a late rally by the visiting team gave the Tigers the hard-earned victory. 
After the game, both coaches praised the play of both teams.
“Long County is a good team. They’re well-coached and are known for winning,” Bradwell Institute head coach Pete Woodard said. “Whenever you beat a team of this caliber, it always helps you.”
“Bradwell did a good job of making adjustments to what we did offensively,” Long County head coach Deshon Brock said. “They switched zones on us, and we did not handle it as well as I would have liked, and they made some big shots down the stretch. I take my hat off to them and their coaching staff.”
“This is a non-region game, but it is for bragging rights, so it’s always big,” Woodard said. “I asked them (Tigers) at the beginning of the game to match their (Tide) intensity, and we would be OK. They have a good team, but we have a good team, too, and my guys did what I ask of them tonight.”
Henry Peoples led the Blue Tied with 23 points, Chris LaRochester added 15 points and Josh Berry had 12 points.  For the Tigers, Miquel Pineda led all scorers with 28 points, Dazjon Tinae added 18 points and Javante Richey had 14 points. Both Bradwell and Long County were back on the court Tuesday, with the Tigers taking on Savannah High School and the Blue Tide facing Tattnall County.  Results from both of those games will be in this Friday’s Coastal Courier.
Both teams will be back on the court Friday for their final game of the regular season. Bradwell will take on the Benedictine Cadets at 8:30 p.m. at home, while Long County faces McIntosh County at 7:30 p.m. in Darien.  Both matchups are region games.

Girls’ game
The Bradwell Institute girls’ basketball team defeated Long County, 68-18, Saturday in Ludowici. 
The Lady Tigers took a commanding 36-8 lead into the lockers at the half, and never looked back as they improved to 15-8. 
Bradwell’s Latisha Frasier and Shaquoia Crockett each had 15 points, Leiatia Leiataua put up 12 points and Akeyla Richardson had 11 points. Raven Rose led Long County with five points, while Christa Prescott and Mikayla Lovette had four points apiece
After the game, Bradwell Institute head coach Faye Baker said she was pleased with her starters’ play, and was glad that she was able to get her reserve players some time on the court.
“I was really pleased with one of my reserve players, Akeyla Richardson. She had an outstanding game, and I look for her to be a key player in the region tournament,” Baker said.
“I told the players not to worry about the scoreboard, always to think of the game as it being 0-0, keep playing hard and when the opportunity to score is there, make sure you take advantage of that opportunity … I was also able to get my reserve players some time on the court, and that is always a good thing,” she added.
Lady Tide head coach Ryan Bailey praised his team’s effort despite picking up the loss.
“The ladies are still attending all of their practices, working hard, and trying to get better, I have young girls on the team, and their future only looks brighter,” Bailey said.
Bailey also praised Rose’s play.
“Raven isn’t playing in her normal spot, but she continues to give everything she has,” Bailey said.
Both Long County and Bradwell Institute were back on the court Tuesday with big region games. The Lady Tigers were scheduled to take on Savannah High School, while the Lady Tide were to face Tattnall County.  Results will be in Friday’s Coastal Courier.
On Friday the Tide ladies travel to Darien to take on McIntosh County. The Lady Tigers face Brunswick at home. They are the teams’ final regular-season games as the region tournaments kick off next week.