Albany Monroe stops Edison Calhoun County in OT, 51-46

ALBANY — The No. 4-ranked (Class AAA) Monroe Golden Tornadoes (14-2) took a 51-46 overtime win over the No. 4-ranked (Class A) Calhoun County Cougars Monday night to close out a full day of basketball at the MLK Classic at Monroe High School. The game was almost completely sold out as a large contingent Calhoun County fans came to Albany to support their team.

Monroe senior Justin Burns almost ended the game in regulation. Wtjh Calhoun ahead by one point with less than 20 seconds remaining, Burns took a pass on a steal and raced toward the basket for a layup. Calhoun’s All-State guard Jasiyah Suber caught up toe Burns and grabbed Burns around the waist as he shot. A foul was called, but not an intentional one that would have also given Monroe possession after the free throws and ended the game. Burns hit one of the two free throws to tie the game and send it into overtime.

Burns scored two quick baskets at the beginning of the overtime period and the Tornadoes held off the Cougars who lost Suber on the first play of the overtime with his fifth foul of the game.

Burns might have a feeling of redemption after being benched in the third quarter.

Burns and the other of Monroe’s first five were on the bench in the third quarter as the Cougars built a nine-point lead in the third quarter. It wasn’t strategy to give the first five a rest, Monroe head coach Michael Hoffpauir did not like what he saw on the court.

“My first five were not playing well,” the coach said. “They weren’t giving me much effort. The second five came in and did a good job wearing them (Calhoun) down. The first group wanted another chance,” Hoffpauir said. “I put them out there and they gave me more effort. That was the difference in the game.”

The win is Monroe’s 12th in a row. The Golden Tornadoes are in the midst of a four-game stretch that could define the season. They have beaten Dougherty and Calhoun County. Tuesday they play at Westover (7-7)and Friday they travel to Columbus to take on undefeated Carver (16-0).

Burns led the Tornadoes with 19 points, scoring 12 of those points in the fourth quarter and the overtime period. Irvin Ellis added eight for Monroe.

Suber led the scoring for the Cougars with 13 points, Dallas George scored nine, and Darnell Enocher scored seven. Calhoun County’s big man inside, Amajion Figgins, dominated the paint. He scored six points but ruled the boards and blocked shots for the Cougars.

Calhoun County’s Cougars fell to 11-4 on the season. They will host Pataula Charter on Friday night.

The No. 7-ranked Monroe girls played earlier in the day and easily defeated Early County 53-24.

Monroe got 21 points from Taylor McKinzy, 17 from KJ Acree, and 10 from Ciarra Lunsford to lead the way. Lunsford had a career day under the boards — pulling down 24 rebounds for Monroe. Acree grabbed 10 rebounds, had seven assists, and stole the ball five times.

Joe WhitfieldJoeWhitfield[email protected]