Albany Dougherty beats Upson-Lee, to host Douglass of Atlanta Wednesday in Elite Eight

ALBANY – The Dougherty Trojans (22-7) will host Douglass High School (16-14)  of Atlanta in the Elite Eight at Dougherty on Wednesday at 6 p.m., and the Trojans are asking fans to make it a white-out game. Last season, Douglass came to Albany and eliminated the Trojans in the Elite Eight with a 79-73 win. Douglass blasted Dawson County 79-42 Saturday night.

In Albany Saturday night, Dougherty struggled early against the visiting Upson-Lee Knights, but a big fourth quarter pushed the Trojans into the Elite Eight with a 73-57 win.

“They came out and played us really hard,” said Dougherty head coach Bakari Bryant. “It took us a while to get going. It was like we were a step slow today,” he said. “Everything they were putting up was going in but there was no panic. I knew it was a matter of time. But we can’t afford to come out like that this Wednesday against a stacked Douglass team.”

The Knights led 27-20 at the end of the first quarter but Dougherty picked up the pace in the second quarter. The first three times Upson-Lee had the ball in the second quarter, Dougherty ended up with points – twice on steals on defense and the third time when Upson-Lee was whistled for traveling. Dougherty scored all three times and tied the game 27-27.

The game was tied 35-35 at the half but the Trojans began to pull away late in the third. Jeremiah Kitchen drilled a long three and Jawuan Jinks followed with a drive past the defender and to the basket to put the Trojans ahead 50-43 with 1:33 remaining in the quarter.

The Trojans dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the visitors 23-12 to advance to the next round.

Five Trojans finished with double figures in scoring. Jinks led with 17 points, Markelle Jones scored 16, Singeltary-Jinks put in 13 and Kitchen added 12.

By Joe Whitfield
Sports EditorJoeWhitfield[email protected]