Boy's Semi-Finals

Trinity, Bowling Green in AA South State Title Game
By Darron Thomas
In boys AA South State semi-final action last night the Trinity Saints went head to head with the Brookhaven Cougars for the fourth time this season. The last time these two squads met Brookhaven stormed back from a late fourth quarter deficit to edge Trinity at the end. Last night’s game had all the makings of another great high school basketball game.

It didn’t take long for fans to notice the defensive intensity from both teams in what would become a very physical contest that would result in over forty fouls called. Trinity grabbed a 6-4 lead on two Giovonni Dent free throws halfway through the opening quarter. A Jamison Powell lay-in at the 4:25 mark would tie things up at 6-6. Trinity would stretch the slim lead to 13-9 on a Dent offensive rebound and put back with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter. Jake Reed then convert on two free throws to trim the deficit to 13-11, but Trinity’s Kent King would finish the quarter with a driving basket to put the Saints up 15-11 after one quarter of play. (Above) Trinity's Brandon Daggs with a drive to the basket
Trinity would get their largest lead of the game at 24-19 on an RJ Fleming basket with 2:24 left in the half. Trinity’s Brandon Daggs picked up his fourth foul with 1:40 remaining in the half. Blaine Roberts converted on two free throws to pull the Cougars to within three at 24-21. Giovonni Dent’s driving basket gave Trinity another five point lead at 26-21 at the 1:00 mark. Trinity center Andrew Johnson joined teammate Brandon Daggs on the bench after picking up his fourth foul with 26 seconds left in the half. Jake Reed would hit one of two free throws to end the quarter with Trinity up 26-22.

(Above) Brookhaven's Jamison Powell
RJ Fleming hit a basket three minutes into the third quarter to give Trinity their biggest lead of the night at 30-24. A Jeremy Foster 3-pointer with three minutes to go in the quarter pulled Brookhaven to 33-30 but the Cougars lost Jake Reed to the bench as the junior picked up his fourth foul with 2:33 remaining in the third. Jamison Powell converted on a six foot jumper in the paint at the 1:08 mark as the Cougars pulled to within one at 33-32. Jeremy Winbourne garnered his fifth foul with one second remaining in the quarter putting Giovonni Dent at the line. Dent would hit on one of two free throws to put the Saints up 34-22 after three quarters.

Both Brandon Daggs and Andrew Johnson started the final quarter after sitting out the entire third quarter with foul trouble. Giovonni Dent’s basket put Trinity up 36-32 with six minutes remaining in the game. Andrew Johnson’s stay in the game didn’t last long as the senior collected his fifth foul with 5:32 left in the game. Jake Reed brought Brookhaven back to within two at 36-34 with 2:17 remaining and a Trinity charging call gave the possession back to the Cougars. Blaine Robert’s drive to the basket with 1:54 left drew a foul and the bucket. Roberts converted the free throw to give Brookhaven their first lead since 4-2 in the opening quarter. That 37-36 advantage didn’t last long as RJ Fleming hit a bucket as Trinity regained the lead at 38-37 with 1:33 remaining. Jake Reed put Brookhaven back on top at 39-38 with a short range bucket with 59 seconds left. With 19 seconds on the clock Brandon Daggs would record his only points of the second half on a five foot floater that rolled around the rim before falling through. On Brookhaven’s next possession Jamison Powell would get fouled with three seconds remaining in the game. After a Trinity time out Powell missed the front end of a one and one. Giovonni Dent pulled down the rebound and was immediately fouled with two seconds left. Dent nailed both free throws as the Trinity Saints advanced to today’s championship game with a 42-39 win over the Brookhaven Cougars.
Trinity was led by Giovonni Dent with 15 points, Brandon Daggs added 10, RJ Fleming 7, Andrew Johnson 4, Kent King 3, and Jackson Bryant 2.
Blaine Roberts led Brookhaven with 13 points, Jake Reed added 9, Jamison Powell 7, Sidney Chaffin 4, Jeremy Foster and Josh Winborne with 3 each.

(Above) Bowling Green's big man Shod Fortenberry contains Wildcat center David Hahn
In the first boys semi-final game last night Chamberlain-Hunt jumped out to an early 6-0 lead on Bowling Green. The Buccaneers would get on the board with a Jaron Edwards basket at the 4:29 mark of the opening quarter. An Andrew Wood 3-pointer would bring Bowling Green to within one at 6-5 but Chamberlain-Hunt center David Hahn converted on an inbounds lob to put the Wildcats up 8-5 with 3:31 left in the quarter. Bowling Green would get two Shod Fortenberry baskets and a Jaron Edwards basket with five seconds on the clock to complete a 10-0 run to finish the first quarter up 15-8.
Chamberlain-Hunt cut the deficit to 15-12 on a David Hahn basket at 6:25 of the second quarter but the Wildcats would only convert one basket the rest of the quarter. Bowling Green stretched the lead to 27-17 on two Shod Fortenberry free throws after David Hahn was called for his third foul with 31 seconds left in the first half.
Chamberlain-Hunt was unsuccessful in cutting into the Bowling Green lead in the third period as the Bucs took a 44-33 advantage into the final period.
A Dean King 12 foot jumper would give Bowling Green their biggest lead of the night at 51-37 with 4:49 left in the contest. Bowling Green would secure the semi-final win with Shod Fortenberry canning four of six free throws down the stretch as the Buccaneers earned a 57-44 win over the Chamberlain-Hunt Wildcats.

Bowling Green was led by Jaron Edwards with 28 points, Shod Fortenberry added 10, Blake McGehee had 9, Andrew Wood 6, Dylan Varnado 4, and Dean King 2.
Chamberlain-Hunt got 14 points from Keeniel Weaver, David Hahn added 13, Chase Deculus 9, Josh McNair and Ifanyi Uzegbunum had 4 each.

(Above) Chase Deculus (#3) of Chamberlain-Hunt
Brookhaven and Chamberlain-Hunt will lock horns tonight at 6:00pm in the consolation match up.
Trinity and Bowling Green will meet in the championship game for the second consecutive year. The Saints handed Bowling Green their first loss of the season in last year’s 50-38 win. Tonight’s tip is scheduled for 7:15pm.