Trey Byrd’s paint dominance fuels Veterans to first series sweep against Warner Robins since 2021

KATHLEEN — For the first time in four years Veterans (7-5) has won both regular season games against Warner Robins (4-6) after Wednesday’s 65-57 final score from The Hangar.

The win moved the Warhawks to 5-3 in December with two games to go and put a rough weekend at the Bear Brawl behind them.

A 66-56 victory over Perry on Monday snapped a two-game losing streak that saw head coach Brandon Driggers dissatisfied with his team’s toughness against Long County and Valdosta.

Veterans responded to a late push by the Demons with one of their own, maintaining a double digit lead for much of the fourth quarter.

“Toughness is going to win you ball games, and I feel like we were tough tonight,” Driggers said. “Trey Byrd was a dog on the boards tonight. He owned the paint, it was his. And that wins you ball games…If we continue to play like that I’ll be happy.”

Trey Byrd finished with 13 points and, as Driggers said, a dominant night in the paint. Warner Robins’ Rykeem Ashley is as solid as they come for high school big men, but Byrd’s height, build and strength make him an issue for any team without someone to match.

He altered countless shots, pulled down rebounds and kept the Veterans offense pushing all night.

“I told the new coaches that came in [over the offseason] that we haven’t ‘seen’ Trey Byrd yet,” Driggers said. “We ain’t seen him yet, but he peaked tonight.”

Having a big Byrd performance with Mouhamadou Mane out was imperative for a Warhawks win considering Mane was the difference-maker last time.

“Mouhamadou Mane, he was out tonight…but I think Trey really stepped up because the first game we played [Warner Robins] Mouhamadou was really the X-Factor. No Mouhamadou tonight, Trey Byrd really stepped in and gave us some good minutes.”

Veterans came into this week with no practice after their two-game losing streak. A day off on Sunday was followed by a 7:30 p.m. tip time against Perry on Monday.

“The biggest thing over the weekend, we told them you can’t get up against who you want to get up against,” Driggers said. “You got to be up no matter who you play. I feel like when they play in-county teams they play a little higher than they should versus non-county teams. But I think they came in locked in ready to go.”

UP NEXT

Veterans will be joining the girls in Savannah for the Savannah Holiday Classic on Friday, Dec. 19 and Saturday, Dec. 20 to close out the non-region schedule.

Warner Robins will gear up for the Screamin’ Demon Invitational on Friday, Dec. 19 and Saturday, Dec. 20.