Tigers fall in final four

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The Swainsboro Tigers traveled to Johns Creek Friday March, 3, for a game against Mount Pisgah Christian Academy in the final four of the Class A state basketball tournaments.

The Tigers from rural Southeast Georgia and the Patriots from the northeast suburbs of Atlanta are two completely different teams. The Tigers lack height but make up in speed and athleticism while Mount Pisgah relies on their size.

Mount Pisgah has a 22-8 record. Their schedule consists of teams in larger classification and teams from Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee.

The game started slowly for the Tigers. Mount Pisgah jumped out to a 10-0 lead and with two minutes left in the first quarter the Tigers trailed 14-1. At the end the 1st quarter the score was 16- 6

The second quarter was a little more equal. Mount Pisgah scored 13 points and Swainsboro scored 10. Mount Pisgah led at halftime time 29-16.

The Tigers only scored eight points in the third quarter. Mount Pisgah scored 14. Mount Pisgah was able to stretch the lead to 18 points with three minutes left in the quarter. During the end of the quarter the Tigers went into their trademark aggressive press and man to man defense. The score at the end of the third quarter was 43-24.

The Tigers came out hot in the fourth quarter scoring seven unanswered points to close the lead to 12. Freshman LJ Morgan hit a three pointer and then a two pointer to spark the Tigers. Unfortunately for the Tigers, DeMello Jones picked up his fourth foul with five minutes left. Then with 4 minutes left he picked up number five. The Tigers kept fighting but with 2:30 left on the clock the Tigers trailed 51-38. Kavoyea Williams hit a three to make the score 51-41 with 1:20 seconds left. Ty Adams scored to make it 51-43. The Tigers were down by 8 but the clock was winding down quickly. Tigers scored four more points and Mount Pisgah scored two as the game came to a close. The final score was Mount Pisgah 53 Swainsboro 47.

Mount Pisgah is a very good team they have good height and good guard play. Their leading scorer on the season is sophomore #5 Michael Cooper. Cooper is already considered one of the state's top players for the 2025 class. He averages 20 points per game. 6"8 center Grant Randall transferred in from McDonough High and averages 16 points per game. Junior guard Tyson Pittman average nine points. 6"7 Max Tucker is an active scorer rebounder and shot blocker. Mount Pisgah was ranked as the number two team in the state.

Despite what appeared to be a mismatch the Tigers gave a very strong effort. They got in an early hole that was difficult to overcome against a team of this magnitude.

Carmelo Lewis who is easily one of the Tigers secret weapons, was ill and not his usual self but he gave his team all he had. No doubt that his shooting and defense was understandably affected by his overall feeling. Tiger seniors Dorein Foots, Ty Adams and JaKari Nobles gave great effort as usual. Demello Jones played strong and gave his all before fouling out. Sophomore Kavoyea Williams and freshman LJ Morgan had great games and kept the Tigers in the game. Williams scored 13 points in the fourth quarter.

Leading scorers for Swainsboro: LJ Morgan with 15 points; Demello Jones with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and four block shots; and Kavoyea Williams with 11 points and seven rebounds.

Leading scorers for Mount Pisgah: Michael Tucker 23 points and 10 rebounds; Tyson Pittman 17 points; Grant Randall six points, 14 rebounds and five blocks