THE SHOWDOWN has been set.
Both Jefferson and Hart County enter Friday’s game in Jefferson tied for the lead in 8-AA South, a half game ahead of Elbert County. Tip-off is at 8:30 p.m.
“It’s just a huge game,” Jefferson coach Bolling DuBose said. “It will be the biggest game we’ve played all year obviously.”
Both teams won Tuesday and are 7-1 in 8-AA South play. Elbert County was idle Tuesday evening and remains at 6-1.
Jefferson’s lone loss in subregion play was to Hart County, so it can’t afford to drop another one to the Bulldogs.
“It’s huge for a lot of reasons,” DuBose said. “First, because we’re tied with them, obviously, in the subregion. That’s one reason we’ve got to have it. But the other is they beat us the first time.”
Both teams have three subregion games remaining after Friday as the race for the 8-AA South title continues.
If Jefferson were to lose to Hart County, the Dragons would also lose any tiebreaker scenario for seeding in the region tournament.
“So that’s one of the biggest things,” DuBose said. “We’ve got to beat them.”
First things first, though.
Jefferson had to beat North Oconee Tuesday night and did, 52-43.
The Dragons traditionally under perform in the Titans’ gym, according to DuBose, but played well enough to avoid the road upset.
“We played really well in the second and fourth quarter,” DuBose said.
Jefferson, which overcame a sluggish first quarter, got 17 points from Austin Thompson and 15 from Will Puckett as it won its fifth consecutive subregion game.
Jefferson was able to get the ball into the post to Puckett and attack the basket with Thompson, who drew fouls and got to the charity stripe. He attempted 15 free throws in the contest.
The Dragons outscored North Oconee 17-9 in the second quarter to lead 24-23 at the half. Jefferson led 35-32 at the end of three quarters but had to rally to win after North Oconee scored the first six points of the final period.
Jefferson closed the game with a 17-5 run, hitting 11 free throws in the fourth quarter.
“I thought the kids responded really well when we got behind in the fourth quarter,” DuBose said. “It was a big win for us to just win and get out of here.”
Dustin Casey added six big points in the fourth quarter as Jefferson clinched the victory.
