Coach Jason Napier had to have back surgery Friday morning but his Bryan County boys basketball team gave the healing process a big boost by garnering a pair of impressive home court wins over the weekend.
The first year Redskins coach had been dealing with a herniated disc that was causing him considerable pain — at times he was getting by with crutches or a walker — and dropping a hard fought 48-45 Region 3A-DII decision at Screven County on Tuesday had not helped matters.
If there was concern about how the team would rebound from the loss to the Gamecocks and with their coach out of action it was erased with a 71-39 win over Wheeler County on Friday night followed by a solid 80-69 defeat of South Effingham on Saturday night. Assistant coach Keavis Hunter stood in for Napier and it was for the most part two stress-free nights. Or at least as stress-free as coaching a basketball game can be.
Hunter is in his second season at Bryan County after having been an assistant at Swainsboro.
In a text message Sunday afternoon, Napier said he would be back on the sidelines when Bryan County (6-3, 2-3) takes on Lake Oconee Academy (91) at Savannah Christian at 4:30 p.m. on Friday as part of a holiday tournament the Raiders are hosting.
On Saturday the Redskins will be at Vidalia, which will be the first of four straight road games. After the holiday break, Bryan County will resume play on Jan. 3 at Emanuel County Institute, followed by games at Jenkins County and Bulloch County before playing Claxton at home on Jan. 10.
“I will be able to coach both of those games,” Napier said in his text. “I have stitches, so I have to be careful, but I feel much better.”
The play of his team over the weekend, if he had seen it, would no doubt have made him feel a lot better about his team’s chances as it heads into the meat of its region schedule.
The play of senior forward Mike Smith, especially, would have eased some of the pain. The 6-foot-4 swingman, an all-region pick as a defensive back in football when he led the Redskins in interceptions, has been playing well defensively but in the last four games he’s become an offensive force.
Smith had a career high 27 points against Bulloch Academy and then followed up by leading the Redskins in scoring against Screven and Wheeler with 19 and 16 points, respectively.
Against South Effingham he had 21 points to support Elijah Mincey’s 25 with 12 of those coming in the fourth quarter when the Redskins pulled away from the pesky Mustangs.
“He’s doing everything we ask him to do,” Hunter said. “He’s doing what we need: he’s playing the lane, slashing, playing good on the boards, good defense.
“He’s playing very well right now,” Hunter said. “The last few games he’s scored, but his defense has been very good. We’re very proud of him and the way he’s playing right now.”
Bryan County led 2319 at the half only to see Screven rally to take a 34-31 advantage into the fourth quarter. Both teams scored 14 points each but Bryan shot itself in the foot at the charity stripe.
For the game, Bryan County converted only eight of 18 free throw lines and with the game on the line, made only three of nine in the fourth quarter.
Wheeler County was no match for the more athletic Redskins, who led 13-5 after the first quarter and then kept the foot to the pedal the rest of the way. It was 36-20 at the half and the Bulldogs (3--4) could not get any closer.
South Effingham hung tough for two-thirds of the way as the Redskins never trailed after going ahead on a one-and by Mincey with 2:25 left in the first quarter for a 12-9 lead.
It was 18-17 after the first quarter and 36-33 at the break and although the Redskins moved out to a 45-37 advantage following a 3-pointer by Darius Edwards midway through the third. Will Harlin followed with back-to-back treys and the Mustangs were back in it.
Finally with five minutes left and nursing a 6153 lead, Smith scored on a put back, Mincey got a steal and converted a oneand and Smith followed with a steal and layup. Suddenly, the lead was 15 points and this time, the Mustangs had no answer.