There weren’t many water bottles left to douse Commerce coach Chad Bridges’ inflamed nerves during his team’s double overtime thriller at East Jackson last weekend.
Instead the Tigers quenched their thirst to win on the court in unlikely ways last week. They did so consistently, winning three of three contests played, and coming from behind against the Eagles, 82-80.
“It was definitely exciting,” said Jonathan Book, whose six three-pointers helped generate his 23 points for the Tigers. “(Coach Bridges) liked how we battled back. It was a point he stressed at halftime and after the game. He told us to play with the same intensity, keep our heads up and keep playing through all the ups and downs of the game.”
East Jackson coach Brian Turner didn’t think a postgame meeting in the locker room was even warranted. Feeling his players had sufficiently left everything out on the floor, he released his squad to go home early.
“I told the kids that I didn’t have anything to say,” Turner said. “They played their butts off. Hopefully, this is maybe a little wake up call for us.”
East Jackson’s Jon Heu missed a half-court desperation heave that bounced off the back iron as the final buzzer sounded, ending a chaotic night at the Eagles’ gym in a rematch of these non-region foes.
East Jackson let a 16-point lead slip by the wayside during regulation but battled to force a second overtime in hopes of ending nine-game losing streak.
“We talked before the right before the game (and said) this is when we need to start playing our best,” said Turner, whose team is still searching for its first win since Dec. 30. “I really thought that this was one of our best efforts all year, by far.”
East Jackson (4-18) faces Jackson County (Friday) and Jefferson (Saturday) this weekend.
Sophomore Jarron Davis led East Jackson with a season-high 28 points against Commerce (12-8), including four three-pointers.
“He stepped up and hit some big shots for us,” Turner said.
Davis found himself in a scoring dual all night with Commerce’s Thomas McMillan, who poured in 27 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter.
Joining McMillan and Book with double-digit production were Robert Hayes ad Chase Klugh, who each added 11.
“(East Jackson’s) style of play lends itself to that, fast break. We were fortunate to play their style and come out with a win,” Bridges said. “We got a few breaks at the end that helped us win it.”
Davis’ jumper for East Jackson with 10 seconds left in the first overtime tied the contest at 73 and forced double overtime.
Hue hit a basket and later a free throw in the second overtime to give East Jackson a 78-76 lead with 1:05 left, but as was the case all evening, Commerce answered.
The Tiger’s Tyre Treadwell completed a traditional three-point play with 56 seconds left to put the Tigers ahead 79-78. Klugh tacked on a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left to push the lead out to 81-78.
“This gives us confidence. We were down pretty much the whole game,” Klugh said. “In games like that it’s important not to give up but fight back.”
Heu settled for a short jumper instead of a three-pointer on East Jackson’s next trip down the floor, cutting the lead to 81-80. The Eagles fouled with just two seconds left and Klugh hit one of two free throws. Heu had just enough time to dribble past the half court line to let his final attempt fly.
“It would have exploded (if it went in),” Turner said of the Eagle gym.
East Jackson was down to just one starter by the end of the second overtime period with three fouling out (Casey Reed, Nathan Crumley and Davis) and another injured (Jake Grindle).
Following the game, Turner pointed to the free throw disparity between the teams as Commerce owned a decided advantage at the charity stripe.
“When the fouls are 30-something to nine, and you don’t even get in a double bonus in a double overtime game, I know we’re not supposed to talk about the officials but that’s awful,” Turner said.
The Eagles led Commerce for much of regulation.
East Jackson — which watched a 16-point second quarter lead dwindle to four by halftime — entered the fourth quarter up 53-44. But Commerce reeled off a 9-2 run to pull within two, and the lead changed four times within the last 1:20 of regulation. The Eagles pulled ahead 67-66 after a layup from Crumley with 24 seconds left but Commerce’s Hayes tied the game with a free throw with 11 seconds left. Hayes finished with 11 points.
The win capped a strong week for Commerce (12-8, 7-3 in region 8-A), which narrowly prevailed over George Walton Academy 52-50 and Hebron Christian academy 47-29.
Bridges said a win Tuesday (Jan. 31) against Riverside Military Academy (3-7, 3-5) would pretty much “lock” Commerce into the no. 2 seed for the sub-region A side, leaving the Tigers in a stronger region tournament position.
Lakeview Academy (17-4, 9-1), who the Tigers play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Commerce, is expected to top the sub-region.
Results from Tuesday’s game were not available by press time.
Last week’s results
Tuesday, Jan. 24
Commerce 52, George Walton Academy 50
Score by quarter
CHS—17|32|41|52
GWA—11|17|33|50
Scorers — CHS, Thomas McMillan 10, Jonathan Book 22, Kirk Rogers 5, Robert Hayes 15.
Friday, Jan. 27
Commerce 47, Hebron Christian Academy 29
Score by quarter
CHS—11|23|33|47
HCA—7|12|15|29
Scorers—CHS, Thomas McMillan 7, Chase Klugh 4, Jonathan Book 20, Isaac Wood 2, Kirk Rogers 8, Keenan Lord 2, Robert Hayes 4.
Saturday, Jan. 28
Score by quarter
CH—15|31|44|67|73|82
EJ—22|35|53|67|73|80
Scorers —CHS, Thomas McMillan 27, Jonathan Book, 23, Chase Klugh 11, Robert Hayes 11, Tony Pattman 7, Tyre Tredwell 3; EJCHS, Jarron Davis 28, Nathan Crumley 14, Casey Reed 11, Jake Grindle 10, Tyree Rakestraw 6, Jon Heu 5, Drashun Upadhyay 2, Miguel Sangalang 2, Andre Sangalang. 2.
