Commerce answered the challenge.
That’s how Jonathan Book described his team’s resolve as it faced an 11-point deficit early in the fourth period against archrival Jefferson High.
“We are here to win. We can’t settle,” Book said, describing what his teammates came away with after coach Chad Bridges’ talk at the break. “Play as hard as you can and we’ll get a win.”
The junior shooting guard led the charge, posting two of his six three-pointers on the night in 30 seconds. The shooting display launched the Tigers ahead of the Dragons, 40-39, with less than three minutes to play.
Commerce would not surrender the lead from there. The team outscored Jefferson 20-8 in the fourth quarter, which ended with the scoreboard tilted in favor of the Tigers, 46-44.
“I was feeling it tonight,” Book said, smiling. “But my expectation entering the season has been to help the team in this way and however I could.”
The win marked Bridges’ first victory in Jefferson and gave Commerce the slight advantage in the series since the coach took the helm.
Bridges nodded to the Tigers’ intensity on defense as providing the grit the team needed to overcome a talented Jefferson squad at home, where an energetic crowd screamed most of the game.
The team nabbed 39 rebounds. Book led all scorers with 22 points and the Tigers’ Thomas McMillan added 12.
Jefferson’s Austin Thompson and Andrew Daniel combined for 25 points to lead the Dragons. Daniel provided one of the game’s most impressive highlights with his three-pointer, executed at the halftime buzzer from well past the arc.
Despite the momentum changes, the Tigers remained composed, Bridges said.
“They played together. They worked extremely hard defensively, which we had not seen,” Bridges added. “I am very proud of them. I challenged them and they responded. I asked them, ‘Are you satisfied because you played close, or do you want to win this game?’ ”
The victory over Jefferson (3-4) helped the Tigers (4-2) overcome a disappointing loss to Athens Academy, 53-36, earlier in the week. Book said his team came out “flat” in that outing, which set up an intense series of practices leading up to the Jefferson contest.
Bridges again mentioned defense and lack of intensity as contributing to the team’s lackluster performance against Athens Academy.
The Tigers nearly dropped another game to Oglethorpe County on Saturday as well but escaped with a 46-44 win.
“We survived a poorly played game on Saturday. We did not have the same intensity level but I hope we can grow from it,” Bridges said. “It is hard to play with the intensity level two nights in a row.”
This week’s games
Sat., Dec. 17 at Lakeview Academy, 5:30 p.m.
Last week’s scores
Tues., Dec. 6
Athens Academy 53, Commerce 36
Leading Scorer — McMillan 17
Fri., Dec. 9
Commerce 46, Jefferson 44
Scorers — McMillan 15, Book 22, Pattman 2, Hayes 7
Commerce 46, Oglethorpe County 44
Leading scorers — McMillan 14, Book 12
