Warner Robins pulls away from Perry
For most of three quarters, Perry stayed right with Warner Robins, a GHSA Class AAAAA semifinalist a year ago.
Finally, late in the third quarter, the Panthers climbed ahead. But the stint atop the mountain didn't last long, Warner Robins closing the quarter strong and opening the fourth stronger en route to a 63-53 non-region boys win Friday night.
The Demons watched a 31-27 lead turn into a 32-31 deficit, courtesy in large part to five straight turnovers. But the Demons got an inspiring dunk by Nelson Phillips, a 3-pointer and then two free throws by Tracey King to take a 38-36 lead after three.
That margin reached double figures less than two minutes into the fourth, sparked by eight points by senior Marquez Callaway. Perry's largest deficit was 12 in the fourth quarter.
Callaway's 18 points topped Warner Robins, while senior center Chris Clerkley led Perry with 13.
FOUR WHO MATTERED
Clerkley: The Georgia State-bound post had to sit in the second half because of foul trouble, and he ended up fouling out with 26.6 seconds left. His absence allowed the Demons, who aren't a tall team by any definition, to have a little size advantage, and they used it.
Donovan Brown: He didn't have a big night as far as point production but had key rebounds and kept possessions alive. He had nine rebounds to go with 12 points.
Tracey King: Another Demons senior, King's points at the end of the third slowed Perry's momentum, and he had a clutch steal in the fourth quarter as the Panthers tried to come back.
Callaway: He pushed the pace and was the big spark early in the fourth. Callaway had five steals by the time his night was done at the 2:42 mark of the fourth quarter.
WORTH NOTING
A good senior night: Warner Robins honored the boys and girls seniors between games. India King, Tesia Walker and Kishara Howard teamed for 23 of the girls points, while King, Callaway, Myles Dudley, Tae Taylor, Brown and Jacquez King combined for 44 of the boys points. The seniors go out in style, with the girls at 19-1 and the boys at 17-2.
Honoring: Outgoing athletics director Bryan Way was cited before the boys game for his help in the creation of a tipoff club at the school. And deceased boys basketball head coach Chip Malone was honored again, as well.
TURNING POINT
The Panthers finally had the lead in a game in which margins were small. But they couldn't take advantage of the Demons' drought enough and allowed the hosts some momentum. Perry scored on only two of six possessions after pulling within 31-30.
OBSERVATIONS
A day off: All four teams will smile a little bit, since they're off Saturday. Region play begins next week, with the Warner Robins teams making the long, winding drive to Augusta and Perry driving up I-75 to Mary Persons.
First or second?: Perry's boys are tied with Upson-Lee for first in Region 2-AAAA. Perry head coach Brett Hardy wasn't sure how the tie would be broken, since the team's split.
ALSO FRIDAY NIGHT
Warner Robins' girls had the solid senior night outing in topping Perry 79-39 to finish the regular season 20-1. The Demons pulled away with 21 points in the second quarter and 16 in the third. Junior Kezia Holmes led Warner Robins with 14, while senior Tesia Wlaker and junior Victoria Brown had 13 each. K.K. Smith led Perry with 18 points.
THEY SAID IT
Perry head coach Brett Perry: "We did not stop fighting. But I think we played kind of passively at times. They applied pressure, and it's like we wanted to get rid of the ball rather than go make a play. They're good if you play the way they want you to."
Warner Robins head coach Jamaal Garman: "I was watching our defense, and it was crappy. I think senior night threw us off. We were out of rhythm, trying to get all the seniors to play. It just kind of threw us out of whack."
Hardy on a lost opportunity, the free-throw line, where Perry went 2-for-5 in the first quarter and 1-for-3 in the third: "We're not the best. Some nights are good, and some nights aren't very good. That was a big difference in the game. They made their free throws. I know they beat us pretty badly there."
Garman on a closer game than the 85-55 win in the first meeting: "You're not going to beat good teams like that again. I was expecting exactly what happened, that it'd be a tough game.
Garman on both teams' struggles out of the gate: "It was like 17-13. I'm like, 'Come on, man.' 23-20 at the half? We score 23 points in a quarter. I'm sure they do, too."
WHAT'S NEXT?
Perry is at the GHSA Region 2-AAAA tournament next week, hosted by Mary Persons, while Warner Robins and Region 2-AAAAA battle at Grovetown.
This story was originally published February 5, 2016 at 11:41 PM with the headline "Warner Robins pulls away from Perry ."