Bob Jones avoids Johnson upset bid
Madison- In a game of runs, the last one belonged to Johnson Tuesday night but Bob Jones held on late as the Patriots narrowly avoided consecutive home losses to ranked 5A teams with a 58-56 victory.
Bob Jones had a 7 point lead with 25 seconds left but a costly turnover and two three-point baskets by Johnson put the Jaguars within a point. After two free throws by Brandon Harris gave Bob Jones a 3 point lead, Harris fouled Johnson’s Marquis Crutcher as he attempted a three-point shot. Crutcher missed one of the three free throws needed to tie the game and the Patriots ran out the clock.
The win wraps up the games against 5A teams for Bob Jones who is now 25-1 and sits at #2 in the polls behind Carver-Montgomery.
From the outset, Bob Jones was sluggish on offense and fell behind 8-3 before Reggie Ragland continued his hot shooting from behind the arc. He hit two 3-point baskets in the span of a minute to tie the game at 10. Johnson took their biggest lead at 20-14 with 3:25 left in the first half. The Patriots struck back with 8 straight as Devin Jackson and Travon Landry each nailed 3-pointers. Johnson led 24-22 at the half.
The Patriots turned up the pressure on defense to start the second half and held Johnson scoreless for the first 3:30. Meanwhile Ragland and Jeffrey Moss powered the offense as the Patriots went on a 9-0 run the start the third quarter. A Brandon Harris three early in the fourth gave Bob Jones their biggest lead at 49-40. Moss hit two free throws to make it 51-46 but Johnson would not go away.
The improbable finish included 2 missed free throws by Travon Landry, a turnover on an inbounds pass by Bob Jones, and Johnson fumbling the ball out-of-bounds on a chance to win while trailing by one at 55-54.
The Patriots had lost their last home game to 5A Lee back on Jan. 21 on a last second shot.
Ragland was the game high scorer with 19 points and he pulled a big 9 rebounds. Jeffrey Moss was an efficient 5 of 8 from the field and 5 of 6 from the free throw line for 16 points. Landry had 13 points.
After missing seven games with a shoulder dislocation earlier this season, Brandon Harris has returned to the starting lineup and is getting back in form. He finished the game with 7 points and 2 assists.
“Coach (Petty) told me to look for my shots,” Harris said. “I’m pretty much a defensive player but if I score that’s good for us.”
Harris said that he is still trying to get back in basketball shape and improve his output on offense.
“The team has been giving me support and telling me to keep playing my game,” Harris said.
Team health is a key and will be a big factor going into the area tournament which starts next Friday night.
According to Harris “if we can keep everybody good (healthy) then we’re confident going into the playoffs.”
Girls Action:
Bob Jones 79, Johnson 32
Led by China Leary, Bob Jones dominated early and built a lead of 20-6 after one quarter and 38-10 at the half. Leary hit two 3-point baskets and had 8 points in the first quarter. Jasmine Jones had 15 points, all in the first half.
Chandler Elder had one of her best games with 12 points including a three in the fourth quarter. Meredith Lovelady had 10 points and a three in the third quarter.
The Lady Patriots are still ranked #1 in the state.
Both the boys and girls will play at Hazel Green on Friday night then wrap up the regular season at home next Monday night against Huntsville. Special ceremonies will be held honoring the seniors.
