Tyree Rakestraw’s lone two points Friday couldn’t have come at a more opportune time for East Jackson.
The sophomore knocked down a pair of free throws with six seconds left to lift the Eagles to a 51-50 victory over Hebron Christian Academy in the seventh-place game at the Wing Slinger Holiday Bash.
Click here for photos from the East Jackson holiday tournament.
“We tell them all the time, you never know whose night it’s going to be to step up and play big and play good,” coach Brian Turner said. “He (Rakestraw) had an opportunity right there to win the game and he stepped up and made them. That’s great for him, especially being a sophomore.”
Hebron, which rallied from 15 points down, had a chance to win the game in the closing seconds, but Dylan Schulte’s long jumper rimmed out as the buzzer sounded.
East Jackson converted nine of its last 10 free throw attempts to pull out its fourth win of the year. Post player Jake Grindle had the big offensive night for the Eagles, scoring 16 points.
“He works harder than probably any player that I’ve ever coached,” Turner said. “He keeps going and he keeps battling. He does damage in the post.”
Nathan Crumley added 12 points.
East Jackson led 34-19 in the third quarter in the third meeting this year between the teams before the Lions mounted a furious charge.
Hebron took 50-48 edge with a three-pointer from Caleb Hawkins with 1:18 left in the game but missed its final four shots from the foul line. East Jackson converted three of its last four.
With the win, the Eagles went 1-2 in the tournament.
East Jackson gave up a season-high 84 points the previous day in an 84-49 loss to Class AAAA Loganville in the second round of the event.
Jarron Davis scored 15 points for the Eagles, and Casey Reed added 12.
East Jackson hung with Loganville for a quarter, trailing 19-15 after the first eight minutes. But the Red Devils outscored the Eagles 19-5 in the second quarter and piled up points in transition in third quarter to build a 57-36 lead.
The Eagles opened with a 63-55 loss to Class A Athens Academy last Wednesday. Crumley led East Jackson with 14 points in a close game in which the Eagles trailed 26-22 at the half and 46-40 after three quarters. Reed added 10 points.
