Basketball Roundup: Houston County High School hosts several middle Georgia schools with Bear Brawl invitational

Things are heating up for some and slowing down for others as the holiday break approaches for Houston County schools; The last week’s hoops was highlighted by HoCo hosting the Bear Brawl on Friday and Saturday, where Veterans guard Jessie Ortiz broke the school 3-pointers made record with nine.

Here’s a roundup of the week’s basketball:

Houston County

Boys: Houston County, the hosts of the Bear Brawl, went 2-1 in their three games this week against Peach County, Lowndes and Southwest-Macon to improve to 8-4.

Their opener of the week on the road against the Trojans was their closest victory thus far with a 52-50 final, where Malik Gillespie led with 17 points, four rebounds and two assists. Josh Jackson followed with 13 points, two rebounds and one assist while Kam Plummer brought 10 points, three rebounds and two assists to the table.

Against Lowndes on Friday the Bears only trailed for the first two and a half minutes of the game before Gillespie turned it on to score 10 of his 16 points in the first quarter. He also added three rebounds and an assist. Plummer contributed 13 points, two rebounds and five assists, one of which was a lob to Gillespie from the wing. Big man Braylin Mills added eight points and six rebounds.

The Bears outscored Southwest 43-32 after going down 29-10 in the first 12 minutes, but the comeback effort started too late as they fell 61-53. Gillespie scored nine points on three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to lead the scoring with 15 points, two rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Josh Jackson added 15 points and Plummer scored eight points.

The Bears will play in the Battle Off Exit 19 tournament at Lowndes High School against Florida State University High School on Friday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. They will face Bishop Snider the next day at 4 p.m.

Girls: The Lady Bears’ losing streak continued as they lost to Peach County and Lowndes, but they snapped it with a win over Southwest-Macon this week, putting their record at 4-8.

On the road against the Lady Trojans HoCo fell 54-44, and were overwhelmed by the Lowndes Vikettes’ defense in Friday’s 73-19 loss. Alaina Coley scored a team-high seven points, Syniah Rankin added six and Felicity Curtis scored four. In their 50-33 win over Southwest, Coley led with 19 points, Kamryn Burke added 12 points and Madison Fillingame 10 points.

The Lady Bears’ next game won’t be until Friday, Dec. 27 against West Laurens at home at 1 p.m.

Northside

Boys: The Eagles (3-3) split their games this week on the road against Veterans, an 82-63 loss, and a 63-54 home win over Rutland on Friday.

Vontrez Quainton showed out against Veterans with seven 3-pointers made to go with 25 points. Braylon Price added 12 points while Meki Spencer contributed nine points.

Spencer made his way to the top of the box score with 14 points against Rutland. Price scored 11 points and Quainton 10.

Northside will travel to Tift County on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m., and will take part in the Screamin’ Demon Invitational at Warner Robins High School on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. against New Faith Christian Academy.

Girls: Northside (4-3) ended their three-game losing streak on Friday in a 63-23 win over Rutland after losing to Veterans 66-44 earlier in the week.

Tuesday’s game was delayed by 45 minutes and the Lady Eagles never recovered as the Lady Warhawks went on a run in the final three minutes of the second quarter. Taylor Johnson led with 18 points, Lay Butler added eight points, and Madi Burch six points.

Against Rutland Johnson again led in scoring with 14 points, Jazmine Burgess tied her with 14 points and Kayla Turner’s two 3-pointers made helped her eight-point total.

Their next game will be on Tuesday, Dec. 17 on the road against Tift County at 6 p.m. After that they will play Tri-Cities at Lamar County High School on Friday, Dec. 27 at 1 p.m.

Perry

Boys: The Panthers dropped to 1-7 this week after an 80-53 loss to Crisp County and 48-42 loss to Hawkinsville on the road. Perry coach Mark Gainous mentioned that the Panthers are looking for a leader in the locker room, and that they have high character players but nobody who’s stepped up to lead so far.

Joshua Weatherspoon had a team-high 19 points in the loss to the Cougars, Juju Carswell scored 11 points and Keaton Stevens eight points.

The Panthers will be back in action next week on a two-game road trip. It starts on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at Dooly County at 7:30 p.m. and ends on Thursday, Dec. 19 at Rutland at 7:30 p.m. They will also take part in the Screamin’ Demon Invitational on Friday, Dec. 20 against Central-Macon at 5 p.m.

Girls: The Lady Panthers eclipsed their best start since 2018-19, when they started 5-1, with lopsided wins against Crisp County and Hawkinsville, 58-27 and 62-28 respectively. Perry now sits at 6-1.

Against the Lady Cougars Kennedi Miller scored 13 points, Anna Dean 10 points and Markayle Ragin 10 points.

Perry’s game against Hawkinsville started a five-game road trip. They travel to Dooly County on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. as well as Rutland on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. Their next game after that will be on the road against Houston County on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 3 p.m.

Veterans

Boys: Veterans turned around their slow 1-3 start with a 4-1 record in the next five games including wins against Northside, Peach County and Valdosta this week. They now sit at 5-4 after a 65-64 (win/loss) to Valdosta on Saturday.

Aiden Sweenor led the scoring in the 82-63 win over Northside with 22 points (four 3-pointers made), Tristen Abner added 17 points and Jaivyon Dawson contributed 14 points.

Against Peach County in HoCo’s Bear Brawl, the ‘Hawks fought off an early deficit to go on a 26-4 run en route to a 68-58 final. Trey Byrd had a team-high 16 points, Jordan Watson had 13 points and Abner added 12 points.

The Warhawks stole the game in the final seconds against Valdosta with two clutch steals from Sweenor and Watson. Sweenor led the scoring with 15 points (three 3-pointers made), Abner came in second with 12 points and Byrd contributed nine points.

Veterans’ next game will be on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at home against Bleckley County at 7:30 p.m. for Military Appreciation Night. They will also play Perry on the road on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 3:30 p.m.

Girls: After a loss to Warner Robins the Lady Warhawks started a winning streak with wins over Northside, Peach County and Valdosta this week to improve to 6-2.

Ayonna Scott collapsed during Veterans’ game against Northside, and after a 45-minute delay and a “For ‘yonna” chant from the Lady ‘Hawks, they went on a big run to put away the Lady Eagles 66-44.

Kiersten Rogers led the team in scoring with 18 points, Jessie Ortiz added 16 points and Nelson added 12 points (three 3-pointers made). Against Peach County the Lady ‘Hawks came away with a dominating 83-30 win where Ortiz led with 20 points, Rogers contributed 16 points and Camila Vicioso, who just returned from flag football, scored 14 points.

Ortiz broke the school record for 3-pointers made on Saturday with nine, shattering the previous record of six. Her 29 points fueled the Lady ‘Hawks on their way to a 64-30 route of the Lady Wildcats. Nelson scored 12 points and Francesca Jones added nine points.

Veterans will host Bleckley County on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. for Military Appreciation Night, and the Lady ‘Hawks will head down to Lee County on Thursday, Dec. 19 to face Lowndes at 1 p.m.

Warner Robins

Boys: The Demons didn’t play any games this week, but will play Grovetown and St. Anne-Pacelli on Friday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. respectively in the Screamin’ Demon Invitational.

Girls: The Demonettes moved to 8-0 with a 67-44 thumping of Lee County on the road on Tuesday.

Korveanna Slaughter scored a career high 25 points to cross the 500-point mark at 512. She also had six steals, two rebounds and two assists. Trinitee Thomas flirted with a five-by-five with 20 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and seven steals. Verkesia Fuller scored three points and pulled down seven rebounds.

Warner Robins will play Grovetown on Saturday, Dec. 21 at home at 10:30 a.m.

Westfield

Boys: Westfield went 2-1 this week to improve to 4-3 on the year.

The Hornets started the week with a 67-49 win over First Presbyterian Day where Cannon Allen led the scoring with 22 points, Hudson Hodge added 16 points and Hayden Hardy poured in 15 points.

In Thursday’s 69-46 victory over Tiftarea Academy, Hardy scored 11 points, Sammy McGehee 10 points and Allen eight points. Westfield finished their week with a 64-43 loss to Southland Academy.

Westfield will host Gatewood on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m., and host Robert Toombs Christian Academy on Friday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m.

Girls: The Lady Hornets also went 2-1 this week to improve to 3-4 on the season with a loss to First Presbyterian Day and wins against Tiftarea Academy and Southland Academy.

Tuesday’s loss to FPD was a close one at 56-49, but Westfield bounced back with a 65-38 win over Tiftarea Academy on Thursday. Kate Lane led with 18 points, Mary Blake Brannen followed with 17 points and Daelyn Sumner added 12 points.

The Lady Hornets ended their week with a 49-40 win over Southland Academy on the road.

Westfield will play Gatewood at home on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. and Robert Toombs Christian Academy on Friday, Dec. 20 at 12 p.m.