Fired-up Warner Robins crushes Ware County
WARNER ROBINS -- Warner Robins head coach Jamaal Garman noticed a fire in the eyes of his players ahead of their GHSA Class AAAAA Tournament opener Wednesday against Ware County.
The Demons (21-2) dominated from the opening tip and ran away from the Gators (17-14) to advance by an 89-61 final.
Ware County had no answers for an aggressive Demons defense that forced 31 turnovers. The Gators committed six turnovers in the game's opening two minutes before even attempting a shot from the field.
Warner Robins continually attacked the basket offensively, earning 44 trips to the free-throw line and converting 29 of those opportunities.
THREE WHO MATTERED
Marquez Callaway: The senior finished with 16 points, knocking down a pair of 3-point shots in the third quarter to quell any hope of a Ware County run.
Nelson Phillips: Phillips led all scorers with 19 points. The lengthy sophomore seemingly got to the bucket any time he wished, helping key Warner Robins' big advantage at the free-throw line.
Donovan Brown: Brown's noticeable improvement from a year ago has stabilized a Demons interior that was hit hard by graduation. He was highly effective scoring from mid-range as he tallied 16 points.
WORTH NOTING
FOUL THEM OUT: Warner Robins was so effective at earning trips to the foul line that three separate Gators were disqualified in the third quarter alone. Ware County lost a fourth player early in the final quarter when Shaheed Medlock was ejected for his second flagrant foul after taking Callaway to the floor on a dunk attempt.
THEY SAID IT
Garman on defensive intensity: "Pressuring the ball was our key. We knew that they didn't have many ballhandlers, so overplaying the passes was what we wanted to do, and they did a good job of it."
Callaway on Ware County's physical play: "That's the game of basketball, and you have to play through it. That type of stuff is only going to make us better."
Garman on the team's title hopes after deep playoff runs the past two years: "As good as we've been the past two or three years, we don't have anything to show for it but a bunch of wins, and that's it. We want a piece of jewelry."
WHAT'S NEXT?
Warner Robins will host Southwest Dekalb, a 66-42 winner over Kell, at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 8:43 PM with the headline "Fired-up Warner Robins crushes Ware County ."