Prep Basketball: Douglas County rolls over East Coweta 102-71
By CHRIS GOLTERMANN
cgoltermann@newnan.com
Basketball shootouts can be a lot of fun.
But only one team from Region 3-AAAAAA seemed to be enjoying themselves on Tuesday at East Coweta.
One East Coweta player nearly gave them two more when he accidentally shot the ball toward his own basket after getting confused in his own zone during the third quarter.
It was that kind of night for the Indians, who fell to 3-13 and 0-4 in region play after losing for the eighth time in a nine-game span. Douglas County improved to 3-2 in 3-AAAAAA and 10-9 overall while snapping a two-game losing streak in the region after falling Friday to Langston Hughes at home.
(To view photos from this game, please visit http://photos.times-herald.com/mycapture/ and click on Sports for the Photo Gallery.)
En route to a team high 17 points, sophomore guard Zach Walker tried to keep East Coweta within range, connecting for seven in the opening period including a pair of field goals.
But back-to-back 3-pointers by Douglas County teammates K’Ja Johnson and Kalen Clifton pushed a 21-7 lead with 2:37 to go in the opening quarter.
The Tigers’ speed and transition game was too much for East Coweta’s defense to handle with Douglas County turning Indian baskets into ones of its own within just a few seconds with long breakout passes.
Instead, the Indians struggled to keep chase, falling further behind 54-36 at halftime and 81-51 after three quarters, forcing a 6-minute final period.
With Johnson and Clifton both sitting out the fourth following respective 15 and 24-point efforts, the only question remaining was whether the Tigers could get to triple digits.
Guard Cory Tillery helped get them there with seven of his 13 points in the fourth, setting up the last of Douglas County’s six 3-pointers for an even 100 with just under a minute left.
Indian senior Marcus Mitchell scored all seven of his points in the fourth quarter and Walker finished his effort with two more field goals. Sanoj Allen finished with 10 points for East Coweta in the loss.
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Newnan teams swept by Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes’ boys won its third straight region game on Tuesday, beating Newnan 61-58 at home to improve to 4-1 and stay atop Region 3-AAAAA standings.
The Cougars fell to 2-3 in the region.
The Lady Cougars lost their game to Langston Hughes 45-29, falling to 1-4.
