Augusta Prep's Lewis frustrates taller foe

The guard matchup between Augusta Prep's Daron Lewis and John Milledge Academy's Cody Wood looked like a mismatch.

//

That's because Wood, a senior and the Trojans' leading scorer, is half-foot taller than Lewis.

By the end of the game, however, Wood was frustrated. Lewis had hounded him and held him to 12 points in Augusta Prep's 47-42 home victory in both teams' Georgia Independent School Association Region 4-AAA opener.

"He couldn't do as much on the offensive end," Augusta Prep coach Mike Guthrie said of Lewis, "but you have to make sacrifices."

Lewis scored just three points, but his contributions were appreciated by his coaches and teammates, especially in a low-scoring contest.

As for the scoring, fellow senior John Paul Lynn took care of that. He heated up in the third quarter, scoring 13 of his game-high 20 points. He beat the third-quarter buzzer with a 3-pointer that extended the Cavaliers' lead to seven.

"I wanted to shoot it," he said of the 3-pointer. "I was in a rhythm."

Lynn got a handful of blocks in the first quarter and continued blocking shots all night.

"John Paul's an awesome defender. You know he's a great athlete, but he's uncanny about going up and finding the ball with his hands," Guthrie said. "He doesn't foul. He's phenomenal."

Junior Frank Hull added 12 points for the Cavaliers.

The game was tied 18-18 at halftime, but a big third quarter from Augusta Prep (8-5, 1-0 GISA Region 4-AAA) was the tipping point.

John Milledge came into the game with a 10-4 record.

In girls action, Augusta Prep sophomore Amanda Murphy scored at will in stretches, but it wasn't enough in John Milledge's 58-43 victory.

The Trojans (12-4, 1-0) opened strong every quarter. For the first three quarters, the Cavaliers (7-6, 0-1) were able to counter and keep the game close.

After three quarters, Augusta Prep trailed by just two at 35-33. In the fourth, John Milledge took over, finishing strong by winning the quarter 23-10.

The Trojans were led by Sarah Miller's 23 points.

Murphy made three 3-pointers and kept Augusta Prep close for most of the game. The deficit was three points after the first quarter and at the half, when the Cavaliers trailed 27-24.

Amanda Murphy scored 19, and Katie Murphy added 11 points for Augusta Prep.

The Trojans gained an advantage inside. Miller and her teammates converted on numerous put-back attempts on second-chance opportunities.

"It was really tough," Amanda Murphy said. "We didn't really have a chance on the boards, so we had to really box out. We did for some of the game, but other times, they just overpowered us."

Tuesday's results

Boys

Greenbrier 62, Hephzibah 58

-- Chad Waddell exploded for 24 points and Dejon Britton had 15 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Wolfpack to a non-region road victory.

Waddell knocked down four 3-pointers for Greenbrier (9-4).

Curtis Baptist 80, Augusta Christian 61

-- Sophomore Chris Smoak-Brown made six 3-pointers, but it wasn't enough for the Lions in a nonregion loss at home.

Smoak-Brown scored 20, while K.J. Armour added 11 for the Lions (5-7).

Harlem 70, Glascock County 39

-- Darius Johnson and Alonzo Hill chipped in 16 points each, helping the Bulldogs to a road victory and their biggest win of the season.

Defense was Harlem's strong point, as the Bulldogs held their opponent to quarter totals of eight, 10, 10 and 11. Meanwhile, Harlem scored 24 in the second quarter to take a commanding 33-18 lead at halftime.

Girls

Grovetown 65, Evans 32

-- Senior Ebony Wells had 22 points and freshman Malia Kency scored 16, as the Warriors dominated the Knights.

After a modest first quarter, Grovetown (12-1) outscored Evans 23-5 in both the second and third quarters.

Uryah Townsend led Evans (3-10) with seven points.

Augusta Christian 44, Curtis Baptist 43

-- Anna Motes' game-winning buzzer-beater from 3-point range gave the Lions a victory over the previously unbeaten Crusaders in a nonregion home game.

Amaura Brandt led a balanced offensive effort for the Lions (10-4) with 14 points.

Hephzibah 72, Greenbrier 19

-- The Wolfpack struggled in the second and third quarters in a nonregion road defeat.

Kori Williams and Taylor Dupree had six points each for Greenbrier.

Hephzibah scored a combined 45 points in the second and third quarters, while Greenbrier totaled two.

The Wolfpack have struggled without standout post player Deztinie Cotton, who is out with a broken ankle.