PORTAL -- Bryan County’s boys took a giant step toward getting the No. 1 see for the Region 3A Public region tournament Tuesday night as they held on to post a 73-70 win at Portal.
Devontae Bowers scored 22 points, becoming the fifth different player to lead the Redskins (17-5, 11-2) in scoring in a game this season, Jamal Campbell had 20 and Elijah Mincey as they combined to offset a 29-point performance by Portal’s Elijah Coleman.
The win moved Bryan County into first place in the regular season region race. It will close out regular season play Friday night as it hosts McIntosh County Academy and with a win will claim the top seed for the region tournament. Portal (12-6, 9-3) dropped to second with two games to play.
Bryan County’s girls (19-4, 9-3), as expected, also won as they rolled over the Panthers, 65-23, and have locked up the No. 3 seed. The region tournament will be played at Claxton Feb. 15-19. The boys have a bye into the semifinals while the girls have a bye into the quarterfinals.
In a game which was not settled until the final minute Bowers scored 14 of his points in the fourth quarter while Campbell had 10 and Mincey nine. The game was tied 50-50 after three quarters and was a virtual repeat of their first meeting when Portal won, 59-57, on a put back of a missed shot with six seconds to play.
“It was a heck of a game,” Coach Brent Anderson said. “It was a huge crowd and we handled it.”
Portal jumped out to an 8-0 lead to start the game before the Redskins settled down to trail 18-15 after one quarter. Portal led 32-30 at the half before Bryan County tied it with eight minutes to play.
Anderson made a lineup change which he said led to Bowers’ big night. The 6-0 junior was averaging seven points a game.
“We moved him (Bowers) to the middle of our offense and Mincey to the corner,” Anderson said. “Mincey hit four threes and Bowers did well around the rim. This game was very similar to last Friday’s game against with Metter…both teams exchanging punches.”