EAST JACKSON returns to its subregion schedule following a confidence-boosting win in a non-region tune-up.
Casey Reed scored a career-high 19 points as East Jackson held off Apalachee, 52-47, Saturday in a rematch of the two clubs. Nathan Crumley added 11 points.
East Jackson (2-5, 0-1) faces Oglethorpe County Friday.
“I think we’re seeing the good things that this team can do, even with our youth and our age and stuff like that,” East Jackson coach Brian Turner said. “I thought tonight (Saturday) was another step towards growing up.”
East Jackson — which lost to Apalachee on Nov. 29 — led the Wildcats 23-16 at the half and withstood a third quarter run by the Wildcats to lead 36-35 heading into the fourth quarter.
“What’s hurt us all year is that stretch (in a game) where we just can’t do anything right,” Turner said. “We had that stretch, but it didn’t ripple over. We stopped it pretty quick.”
The Wildcats led briefly in the final period, 40-38, before Crumley tied the game at 40 with 5:19 left in the contest. Reed followed with a three-pointer to give the Eagles a 43-40 lead, and East Jackson led the rest of the way.
Reed scored 11 of his 19 points in the second half.
“He has the tools to be a really good player,” Turner said. “He’s very versatile. He plays the one, two, three and four (positions) … I think tonight (Saturday) he finally came into his own.”
East Jackson didn’t seal the win until Jarron Davis hit two free throws with 20 seconds left to give the Eagles a 51-47 lead.
Instead of coming out in a full-court press to start the game, East Jackson opted to show a 2-3 zone look in the fist half. Turner liked what he saw after his team surrendered just 16 first-half points.
“I really thought our first half defense was kind of the key to the game,” Turner said.
East Jackson was coming off a 61-51 loss to Hart County. The Eagles trailed 31-29 at the half in that game but were outscored 30-22 the rest of the way. Davis, who hit three three’s, and Jake Grindle each scored 11 points to pace East Jackson.
“We kept fighting and battling to get back in it but they’re really athletic and we had a couple of people who were struggling from the field some,” Turner said. “We just couldn’t make enough shots to get back in it.”
