The Swainsboro Tigers (23–2) clinched the No. 1 region seed heading into this week’s region tournament, sweeping both Metter and Toombs County. The Tigers rolled through this season’s region schedule, averaging nearly 80 points per game and losing only once. Swainsboro is recognized by MaxPreps as the No. 1 team in the Class AA classification. Swainsboro has secured a bid into the state playoffs and will compete for a region championship this Friday and Saturday.
Swainsboro took care of business last week, wrapping up their regular season, but it didn’t come without some drama against Metter. Metter shot the lights out from deep in the first half and played like a motivated bunch. Immanuel Hackett was a member of Metter’s squad last season before transferring to Swainsboro. He nailed three 3-pointers in the opening quarter to keep Swainsboro on pace with Metter’s hot start. Metter had the game knotted at 37-all heading into the half and the crowd, albeit a bit stunned, knew this game would be a fight to the finish.
Swainsboro uncharacteristically missed multiple chip shots from close throughout the game and Metter capitalized, leading 58–56 heading into the final quarter. Swainsboro, as if they had had enough allowing Metter to hang around, turned up the defensive intensity and the pressure was too much for Metter to withstand. Multiple turnovers early in the final period got Swainsboro rolling. Hackett scored 15 of his game high 30 points in the quarter and Swainsboro pulled away for an 88–72 victory. DJ Jones and AJ Kingsberry scored 14 apiece, and Fred Seabrough chipped in 11 points. Swainsboro got big minutes from Juan Brown and Dre Miles down the stretch to secure the win.
Swainsboro plays the late game Friday night in Metter, but the opponent is still to be determined. Swainsboro and Jeff Davis are the top two seeds and will receive a bye for early round games. Vidalia and Woodville-Tompkins round out the top four. Metter and Bacon County make up formidable foes in the fifth and sixth spots in the region pecking order.
