Demons stick a fork in Eagles, beat rival 79-60

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — The Northside Eagles and the Warner Robins Demons continued their historic rivalry Saturday as the two teams met in Demon Valley. And the game did not disappoint.

The house was packed, and they had to stop letting people enter the game before the boys even started. Did I mention these teams hate each other? Thanks to some trash talking and threats earlier in the week, the police were strategically placed throughout the building, and the metal detectors were out for precautionary measures. This rivalry runs deep, and it goes way back.

In the first quarter, they battled back and forth, and the game remained close until Warner Robins pulled away in the second half. The Demons were hitting from inside and outside as Gabriel Jacobs, who had eight points in the first quarter, drained two three-pointers, and Germir Williams had five points with a three as well.

On the other side, Ricardo Jones also led with seven points, which included a three-pointer. Warner Robins was up 21-16, but Northside pushed back in the second, outscoring Warner Robins, 16-14.

Duke McClinton hit three three-pointers, and Jones hit another one as well, with 12 of the Demons’ 16 points coming from behind the arc. Jay Johnson and Cam Perkins had seven points apiece in the second, and the Demons led by three at halftime, 35-32.

Perkins was still on fire in the third quarter, and he put up nine points, bringing his total to 18 so far, and they got some help from Isiah Gibson, who had six points. Warner Robins’ defense was keeping the pressure on, and they only allowed the Eagles to score eight points in the third quarter. They outrebounded Northside 49-36, and the Demons managed to come away with 11 steals in the game, leading to points off the fast break in transition.

The Eagles battled back in the fourth quarter, but the 16-point third quarter deficit was too much to overcome. Jones, a multi-sport athlete, hit two more threes in the third quarter and then finished with 24 points on the night. Warner Robins had three players — Perkins (22 pts), Jacobs (17 pts) and Johnson (19 pts) — and they came out on top, 79-60.

Warner Robins will face Union Grove in a region matchup on Tuesday, and Northside will travel to Leesburg to face Lee County on Friday. The Eagles and the Demons will play again on the 28th, this time at Northside. It should be another exciting matchup.

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