Calhoun whips Dougherty, Lee wallops Worth in summer basketball

EDISON – Calhoun County’s basketball team hosted their final home event of the summer with other area teams on Tuesday in Edison. The Cougars of Calhoun County, Dougherty, Lee County, and Worth County all competed, but the first two varsity games were blowouts. Later in the day, Calhoun beat Lee County 50-49 and also defeated Worth County.

The day began with the JV squads of Dougherty and Calhoun County competing, and Dougherty took home a 41-36 win.

Calhoun County’s JV controlled things early with a fast, stingy defense, but the Trojans closed the gap to just three points at the half. The Cougars led 15-12 at the break. Dougherty kept pushing in the second half and built a seven-point lead before the Cougars battled and took a 35-33 lead late in the game.

Dougherty’s Marcus Heath gave the Trojans the lead at 36-35 with a perfect three-pointer and under a minute left to play. The Trojans added points late on free throws from Mikel Roberts and a big put-back off a rebound by Alijah Pace.

With the JV game in the books, the varsity teams of Dougherty and Calhoun County collided. The Cougars won easily, 88-46, behind the sharp shooting of Darnell Enocher, Jadon Welch, and Dallas George, plus the inside play of Zechariah Canidate.

Dougherty started the game with its usual starters sitting on the bench and younger players on the court against Calhoun’s top players. The Cougars led 26-6 early and 46-15 at the half. The Trojan starters hit the court after halftime, but the Cougars continued to add to their lead.

“I wanted them to not look at the score and engage in the fight,” Dougherty Head Coach Bakari Bryant said of his plan to keep his main players on the bench. “Life is not going to be easy. Being a father is not going to be easy. Being a husband is not going to be easy. Believing in God or your faith is not going to be easy. I’m still learning that, and as I’m learning, I’m also teaching. I need my young men to become leaders and hold themselves accountable. Sports is a tool or a platform that can help with that, so why not use it?”

After the Trojans and Cougars finished their matchup, the Lee County Trojans walloped the Worth County Rams, 71-35.

Multiple three-pointers from Braden Moore and Kam Sanders helped Lee County build a 21-2 lead before Trojan Head Coach Kirven Davis started substituting players. Worth County pulled back to 30-18 before the half, led by James Raymond, Grant Juster, and Ashton Williams. However, the Trojan starters came back after the half and pushed the lead out, and the Rams were never able to come back.

Albany’s summer basketball will end Thursday at Westover. Games begin at 3:30 with an alumni game, then middle school teams Albany vs. Terrell will go at 4:15, and Radium Springs vs. Merry Acres will play at 5 p.m. Varsity games begin at 5:45 when Monroe plays Southwest Georgia Academy, and the day ends with Westover against Dougherty.

By Joe Whitfield
Sports EditorBy Joe Whitfield
Sports Edtior