The East Jackson Eagles wrapped up the regular season last week with losses to Jefferson and North Oconee. The late-season slide left them fifth in the subregion, trailing Hart County, Elbert, Jefferson and Jackson County with a 4-8 record (9-16 overall).
The Eagles were slated to open up region play on Tuesday in Hart County against Dawson County.
The Tigers finished fourth in 8A-AA, trailing East Hall, Union County and Rabun County with a 4-6 record (15-8 overall).
Dawson County has won four of the last five meetings between the two teams, including the most recent, a 35-17 victory a year ago.
“Tuesday night is an interesting matchup for us, especially after last year’s region tournament game where we could not find the basket,” coach Brian Turner said Monday. “Dawson, I am sure, will try to slow the game down and we will try to speed it up. Whoever decides the tempo will have the advantage in the game. Right now we are 0-0 and need to win two games to get in the playoffs, and that is what we will concentrate on.”
Results of that game were unavailable at press time.
Jefferson
The Eagles traveled to Jefferson last week to face the Dragons in a game rescheduled due to snow.
The first half was back and forth, with the Eagles holding a two-point lead at the end of the first quarter but finding themselves trailing by four at the half.
East Jackson seemed to lose its defensive intensity in the third, and was outscored 28-21, which left the Eagles looking at an 11-point deficit entering the final quarter.
The Eagles stepped up, and late in the quarter found itself with a slim lead. Jefferson tied the score with 15 seconds left to play and as time ran out made a three-pointer to give the Dragons the 76-73 victory.
Cody Gibbs led the Eagle offense with 22 points, followed by Jermaine Davis with 20.
“It was heartbreaking and I really felt bad for our kids as they were right there to win both games (against Jefferson) but fell one play short on both occasions,” Turner said. “The worst part of being a coach is seeing the disappointment on a kid’s face after a game like that.”
North Oconee
On Friday, the Eagles traveled to North Oconee tor their final game of the regular season.
Things didn’t go well over the first three quarters. Whether it was a holdover from the Jefferson games or just and off night, the Eagles came out unfocused and found themselves on the short end of a 17-point difference going into the final eight minutes.
The Eagles rallied, but it was too little too late as North Oconee recorded the 63-58 victory.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Commerce News or The Jackson Herald.
