Packers win Roundball Classic

December 31, 2008 11:15 pm

— MOULTRIE — Twelve days ago, the Colquitt County boys basketball team lost to Dougherty 73-70 in its first game of the U-Save-It Holiday Classic in Albany to fall to 0-5 on the season.
The loss also extended the Packers losing streak to 19 games, dating back to January of 2008.
But that streak was given a proper burial at the Gladys Espy Gymnasium on Wednesday when the Packers defeated Mt. Zion High of Jonesboro 44-40 to win the third annual Packer Roundball Classic and take a five-game winning streak into 2009.
The Packers won their final two games in the tournament in Albany, then won all three games in the tournament on their home court.
Friday’s victory was not a thing of beauty, but no one in black-and-gold is complaining.
The Packers led by 15 at the half before the Jarrell King hit five 3-pointers to bring Mt. Zion back into the game.
The Bulldogs tied the game at 32-32 on a basket by Karon Hodge 41 seconds into the fourth quarter, but were never able to wrestle a lead away from the Packers.
Brian Berl hit a jumper a minute later and sank a 3-pointer with 5:50 left in the game to give the Packers some cushion.
Colquitt missed six straight free throws in the closing minute, making the game closer than it needed to be.
But Coach Kirven Davis could hardly be more pleased with his team.
“I’m proud of them,” he said of his team, now 5-5. “It shows a lot of character.
“There was a little fatigue out there, but we’ve had back-to-back tough games. We didn’t play our best, but we’re still hanging in there.”
The Packers open Region 1-AAAAA play on Friday at Coffee then return home to meet undefeated and high-scoring Valdosta on Tuesday.
“We’ve just got to keep fighting,” Davis said. “That’s what we play these tournaments for, to get ready for the region.”
Berl picked up the slack offensively for the Packers, scoring 12 points, including seven in the fourth quarter.
The Packers needed the boost. Mt. Zion held Nate Hill, who was averaging 19.4 points a game, to just seven.
Hill did have a game-high eight rebounds.
The Packers spread the scoring around, with Luis Ballenilla getting five; Dominique Hadley, Cole Pitts, Amel Magwood and Cameron Erving each contributing four; and Eric Key and Quan Daniels each chipping in a basket.
Daniels came off the bench in the fourth quarter, getting a basket that gave the Packers a 40-36 lead with 3:55 left in the game.
As usual, Key’s contributions did not show up in the scoring column. He continue to play aggressive defense and handle the ball well.
His contributions were rewarded when he was named the tournament’s outstanding player.
King led Mt. Zion with 18 points, including the 15 with his remarkable third-quarter performance.
Reggie Mitchell, Gabe Johnson and Stephen Wilson each had six points.
While the Packers will try to build on their winning streak in Douglas on Friday, the Colquitt County girls will be out to break a three-game losing streak.
The Lady Packers appeared cold and lethargic in their 41-30 loss to Camden County on Wednesday in their final game of the Roundball Classic.
The Lady Packers led by one after the first quarter, when Nicolle Thomas hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
But Colquitt was outscored 19-7 in the second quarter and never recovered. Camden County all-tournament junior guard Kristin Jones had nine of her team-high 12 points in the quarter.
After winning their first four games of the season, the Colquitt County girls have won just one of their last six and also are 5-5.
In the Roundball Classic, the Lady Packers also dropped games to Dougherty (59-56 in overtime) and Stockbridge 51-56.
Both of those were close. Wednesday’s game against the Lady Wildcats was not. In the second half, the closest the Lady Packers could get to the girls from Kingsland was six points.
Camden was patient on offense, getting strong work inside from 5-foot-11 Jeana Knappenberger and 6-foot-1 Kristi Mokube.
Although she didn’t score, Mokube had eight rebounds. Knappenberger had eight points and eight rebounds.
Six-foot senior Katie Fitzgerald had nine points and pulled down seven rebounds for the Lady Wildcats.
Thomas provided most of the offense for the Lady Packers, scoring 13 points. She also led the team with six rebounds.
Bria Wallace had nine points, Ashley Patillo and Umeika Henry each had three points and Persephone Taylor had two.
Patillo was named to the all-tournament team after scoring 28 points in the Lady Packers three games.
Henry was the team’s leading scoring in the tournament with 37 points. Thomas had 31 points.
Albany High was Roundball Classic’s girls champion, winning all three of its games, defeating Lee County 46-40, Savannah 48-37 and Stockbridge 46-42.
Camden County also was unbeaten in the tournament, but played only two games. The Lady Wildcats defeated Dougherty 57-48 on Tuesday.
Also on Wednesday, the Dougherty girls defeated Lee county 61-44 and the Savannah girls won over Monroe 53-24.
In boys games on Wednesday, Lee County defeated Baker County 73-70, Stockbridge won over St. Francis 62-58 and Monroe defeated Miller County 50-35.