Bob Jones boys win area title

Cade Johnson delivers three of his 22 points Monday to help the Patriots down Florence in the Class 6A Area 15 championship, 59-45.

The Bob Jones boys’ basketball team outscored Florence 18-4 in the third quarter to earn the come-from-behind victory, 59-45, and the Class 6A Area 15 area title.

Cade Johnson led the Patriots with a career-high 22 points, finishing 10-of-14 from the field.

“He got aggressive for us,” said Bob Jones head coach Danny Petty. “But that’s the beauty of our team.”

The Patriots fell behind early, but tied the game late in the first quarter.

Florence retook the lead to close out the quarter, but Johnson stepped up for the first time in the second quarter to retie the game.

Bob Jones took its first lead of the game minutes later, but the Falcons found their groove and opened the lead to six at the half.

“We came out a little slow, but they’re a great team,” Johnson said.

At the half, Petty said he had to remind his team to settle down and get back to the basics.

“I had to get on them a bit,” Petty said. “We just weren’t playing aggressively on defense. I thought our defense picked it up in the third quarter.”

The third quarter was all Bob Jones, as Johnson nailed a three to give the Patriots the lead for good.

The Patriots proceeded to go on a 14-0 run and cruised to the victory.

Offensively for the Patriots, Reggie Ragland followed Johnson with 12 points, while Levi Randolph finished with 10.

Jeffrey Moss also had eight in the win.

For Florence, Corey Ricks had a team-high 16 points, while Xavier Whiteside and Kivon Coman each finished with eight.

The Patriots will host the sub-regional Friday at 7 p.m. Bob Jones will take on the winner of Sparkman and Hazel Green.