BUENA VISTA —
On Friday night the Americus-Sumter Panthers traveled to Buena Vista to take on the Marion County Eagles in what would become one of the most exciting high school basketball games in the state so far this season. The Eagles, led by freshman sensation Lorenzo Smothers’ 35 point performance, held off a heroic late game charge from the Panthers in the final period to earn a 63-60 win over their AAAA neighbor and move to 3-1 on the young 2012-13 season.
From the opening tip-off your could tell that this was going to be an exciting game that would come down to the final seconds to decide the victor. Trae Swanson of Marion would sink back-to-back baskets, followed by back-to-back shots by Juwon High of Americus-Sumter. The teams would trade baskets throughout the first period, and a big basket with six seconds left by D.J. Harris of Americus-Sumter would narrow the Eagles first period lead to 14-12.
The Panthers would take a 16-15 lead on Marion County early in the second period, but the Eagles would catch fire and rattle off 14 unanswered points to take a commanding lead. During the run, Smothers would sink seven points, and the Eagles would take a 29-19 lead into the locker room for the halftime break.
The third period would be fast and furious, with each team scoring many points in very quick fashion. The Panthers would pull within six at 33-27 with two free throws by Michael Volley, but Marion would storm right back with six unanswered points to close out the third with a 45-34 lead.
Trailing by 11 points in the fourth quarter, the Panthers began to mount what would become a historic comeback on the Eagles court. Down 55-47, Americus-Sumter would get back-to-back-to-back three-pointers by Mike Russell, Xavier Willis, and Russell again to tie the game at 56-56. With 1:01 remaining in the game Smothers would sink two clutch free-throws to give the Eagles a 58-56 lead, but the Panthers would again storm back.
With only 31 seconds remaining in the game, Russell would hit a long two-pointer to tie the game. On their next possession, Smothers would drive the lane and find the basket for two points to give his team a two point lead with only 27 seconds remaining. After trading possessions, Smothers would intercept the Americus-Sumter inbound pass with three seconds remaining to thwart the Panthers comeback attempt. Smothers’ huge 13 point fourth period would propel his team to a 60-58 victory, and bragging rights over their much larger AAAA opponent.
Smothers finished the night with an amazing 35 points, followed by teammate Markeese Bridges with 10 points. For Americus-Sumter, Michael Volley led the way with 20 points, followed by Willis with 15, Russell with 11, and High with 10.
The win propelled the Eagles to a 3-1 overall record, and their record in Region 4-A play remained the same at 1-1 following the non-region contest. The loss for Americus-Sumter dropped their record to 2-4 on the season, with their Region 1-AAAA record holding steady at 2-3.
The Panthers will take on another Region 4-A opponent on December 21 when they welcome the Dooly County Bobcats to Americus for a non-region game beginning at 7:30 p.m. Marion will return to action on December 27 when they compete in the Manchester Tournament, with starting times to be announced.
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Lorenzo Smothers (white jersey) had a career night with 35 points to help Marion County defeat Americus-Sumter 63-60 on Friday night in Buena Vista. Scott Phillips
Marion County Smothers Americus-Sumter
- Local Sports
-
-
Booker’s individual title leads Lady Wildcats to 2013 State Championship
After winning eight of their nine matches this season and dominating the Area 1 Public meet by 53 strokes over their closest opponent, the Schley County Lady Wildcats golf team achieved their ultimate goal on Monday by winning the GHSA Class A Public State Championship at Highland Walk Golf Course in Royston, Ga.
-
Gahman finishes in top 20 at NCAA Division II National Championships
Georgia Southwestern senior Nate Gahman fired a final round 73 on Wednesday to tie for 19th place overall out of 108 golfers at the three-day NCAA Division II National Championships.
-
Hawkins named All-State, Hanson All-Region for Lady Raiders
Head coach Michael Pepito and the Southland Academy Lady Raiders soccer team received some good news recently when they learned that junior defender Quinn Hanson and sophomore forward Ella Hawkins were named to the GISA Region 3-AAA All-Region team. The good news got even better as the GISA AAA All-State selections were released with Hawkins claiming one of the 18 spots for the top players in the state.
-
Four Hurricanes earn All-PBC academic baseball honors
Georgia Southwestern State University seniors Randall Sheffield, Frank Ambrosino, junior Jarrod Taylor and sophomore Les Cromer have earned 2013 Peach Belt Conference All-Academic baseball honors as recently announced by the conference office. Sheffield was named to the All-Academic Team while Ambrosino, Taylor and Cromer received honorable mentions.
-
Raiders drop two to Mount de Sales to end postseason run
The 2013 Southland Academy Raider baseball team advanced to the second round for the first time in many years after taking down Loganville Christian Academy in the first round of the GISA Class AAA playoffs last week. The Raiders were hoping to keep that run going against Mount de Sales in the quarterfinals this week, but after a big inning cost Southland in game one on Thursday, the Cavaliers of Mount de Sales used a late inning comeback in game two on Saturday to advance to the semifinals and end the Raiders season.
-
Americus-Sumter star athlete Kayla Bowens signs with Albany State
Every signing is a special signing for Americus-Sumter Lady Panther head coach Evelyn Wright. While Wright’s main job is to make her team well-rounded and competitive in GHSA Class AAAA competition, the long-time Lady Panther coach takes great pride when one of her players realizes a dream of playing college basketball. Friday morning’s signing ceremony tugged at the heart strings a little more, however, as Wright watched her granddaughter Kayla Bowens sign her name on the dotted line to continue her basketball career at her grandmother’s alma mater, Albany State University.
-
Cheek, Barnes receive top honors as 11 Wildcats land on All-Region team
The 2013 baseball season was a very successful one for the Schley County Wildcats. The ‘Cats earned the Region 4-A Championship after winning their first nine region contests, and finished the regular season with amazing 18-5 record before falling to Jenkins County in the first round of the GHSA Class A Public state playoffs. The Wildcats Region 4-A opponents took notice, and at the All-Region coaches meeting Schley County head coach Chuck Cheek was named Coach of the Year, and ace pitcher Justin Barnes Pitcher of the Year, as the ‘Cats landed 11 members of their squad on the 2013 All-Region 4-A team.
-
Bolivian president takes on Americus-Sumter in local soccer match
It’s not every day that a local high school gets to take on the president of a country in a pick-up soccer game. For the Americus-Sumter High School Panthers that rare opportunity presented itself on Monday evening at Alton Shell Stadium on the pitch of Americus-Sumter High School’s South Campus as Bolivian President Evo Morales challenged the Panthers to a soccer game.
-
Local businesses help fund new basketball jerseys for Boys and Girls club
Several local businesses partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Americus/Sumter County and the Americus Police Department to buy new uniforms for every member of the organization’s young men’s basketball team recently. The Boys and Girls Club is located at 551 Hosanna Circle.
-
Talented SCPRD track and field team performs well at state finals
The Sumter County Parks and Recreation Department (SCPRD) track and field team dominated their area meet to qualify 40 participants for the state meet at Carrollton High School’s Grisham Stadium last weekend. The SCPRD team followed their stout area showing by performing exceptionally well in the state meet to close out their 2013 season.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
