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By Su Ann Bird

 

AMERICUS – Sophomore guard Justin Evans hit a break away layup with 4:13 remaining in the game to give the South Georgia Technical College Jets their first lead in the second half (68 – 67) and eventually lift the Jets to an 80 – 74 come from behind win over Gordon State College Wednesday night.

Evans layup was followed by an old-fashioned three-point play by Camarion Johnson, another layup by Evans, a free throw by Johnson, and a three-pointer by Israel Momodu to allow the Jets to take the come from behind victory over Gordon.

Gordon led the Jets for most of the game and was up 57 – 32 with 16 minutes left in the game.  The Jets rallied and cut the deficit to 57 – 46 with 11:42 remaining.  South Georgia Tech had pulled within two points with 5:05 on the clock.  Daryl Bod sank a free throw with 4:32 on the clock to put the Jets within one point 66 – 67 and then Evans sank the layup to give the Jets a lead and eventually help them secure the win.

It was not a pretty game by any stretch of the imagination.  Gordon was up 45 – 29 at the half after sinking 20 of 24 free throw attempts.  The Jets were five of eight.  The 32 first half fouls eventually led to the two teams committing 55 fouls on the night.  Miraculously, only one player fouled out, Jamar Moore from Gordon.

The Jets are still in a three-way tie in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) with South Georgia State College and Georgia Highlands with identical 10 – 5 records.  Albany Tech is currently in first place, 12 – 3 and Central Georgia Tech is second, 11 – 5.

The top four teams will host a first-round playoff game on Tuesday, March 12 and the remaining highest seeded team will host the semi-final and final rounds on March 15 ad 16.  The Jets, South Georgia State and Georgia Highlands will wrap up the regular season with games on Saturday.  The Jets host East Georgia (7 – 8), South Georgia State plays Gordon (4 – 11) and Georgia Highlands plays Andrew (2 – 12).  If all three teams win out, the tie will be broken by head to head competition.  South Georgia Tech split with South Georgia State and lost two games to Georgia Highlands in the regular season.

The Jets had four players in double-digits in the win over Gordon.  Israel Momodu, a sophomore forward from Atlanta, GA, was the leading scorer with 16 points.  He was one of one from the three-point line and five of seven from the foul line.  He also had four more baskets from the field, as well as five rebounds, four assists, two blocked shots and a steal.

Freshman guard Kameron Forman was next with 13 points, Camarion Johnson added 11 points and Daryl Bod tossed in 10 points.  Jaylen Woods and Ryan Djoussa had nine and eight points respectively.  Mohand Ammad and Justin Evans both came away with four points.  Harley Kent hit a three-pointer and Vaughn Prosser closed out the scoring with two points.

The Jets and the Lady Jets will both be back in action for their final regular season game Saturday in a double-header with East Georgia State College during the Alumni-Sophomore Day event.  Game time is 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce will be providing free hot dogs and hamburgers as part of a tail-gate beginning at 12:15. Free t-shirts will be available while supplies last and admission to the games are free.  The sophomore players will be recognized between games.

The SGTC Lady Jets (13 – 4) are currently in second place in the GCAA behind East Georgia (17 – 0) and will hold on to that spot win or lose Saturday.  That second place position will allow them to host a first-round game in the GCAA Region 17 tournament on Tuesday, March 12.  Southern Crescent is currently in seventh place and will probably travel to SGTC for that contest.

The final rounds of the women’s tournament will be hosted by East Georgia in Swainsboro on March 15 and 16 with the top four teams advancing.