BCHS beats Berrien, No. 9 Fitzgerald and Worth County
Three Region 1 victories at Berrien and home against ninth-ranked Fitzgerald and Worth County has Brantley County perched atop the standings and riding a fourgame winning streak.
The Herons (13-4 overall, 52 region) strung together backto- back wins for the first time since starting 6-0 beating Berrien 68-51 in Nashville Tuesday, January 14. The loss was the fifth straight for the Rebels (7-11, 0-6).
BCHS handed the stateranked Purple Hurricanes (113, 3-2) a second straight loss rolling to a 63-38 victory Friday, January 17. Following a 90-point outburst against Berrien, Fitzgerald managed 92 points in consecutive losses to Bacon County and the Herons.
Brantley County finished the busy week with a 58-39 win Saturday, January 18 over the Rams (7-9, 2-2). It marked the second straight loss for Worth County following a four-game winning streak sporting an 83.5 scoring average.
BCHS had second consecutive three-game slate of action. Brantley County’s game at Bacon County Tuesday, January 21 has been moved to Friday, February 7. The Herons travel Friday, January 24 to Bearville to face Pierce County.
Brantley County closes the week Saturday, January 25 hosting Thomasville. BCHS travels Tuesday, January 28 to face Jeff Davis. The Herons host Berrien Friday, January 31.
Herons ........................68 Berrien.........................51 NASHVILLE — Tucker O’Quinn led a trio of Brantley County players in double figures scoring 24 points in the victory over the Rebels.
O’Quinn added a team-high seven rebounds and handed out seven assists. Patrick O’Quinn contributed 12 points with a team-high eight assists and pulled down six rebounds. Jayden Simmons bagged 10 points.
“I was happy to get a win, but we have to take care of the ball better than we did,” said head coach Tripp Herrin. “We had too many turnovers.”
Both teams got off to a slow start in the opening eight minutes with the Herons holding a 10-3 lead. BCHS found its rhythm in the second quarter outscoring the Rebels 25-10 to open up a 35-13 halftime bulge.
Berrien won the second half scoring battle, 38-33. The Rebels outpointed Brantley County 15-14 in the third period to trail 49-28. The home team outscored the Herons 2319 in the final stanza.
Brantley County had seven other players reach the scoring column led by the seven points of Carson Jacobs. Holton Depratter and Kent Thomas followed scoring four points and three points respectively. Cole Courson, Courtlon Fuller and Ramsey Pittman added two points apiece.
Herons ........................63 No. 9 Fitzgerald ...........38 CANEY BAY — The Herons raced out to a 25-point halftime lead and coasted over the final 16 minutes to knock off Fitzgerald.
“We got on a pretty good run in the second quarter,” said Herrin. “I thought we had the game in hand at the half.”
Brantley County claimed an 18-10 advantage by the end of the first period. The Herons blew the game open over the second eight-minute segment outscoring Fitzgerald 24-7 to open up a 42-17 halftime lead.
The Purple Hurricane outpointed BCHS 10-8 in a slowpaced third period to trail 50-27. Brantley County finished the game with a 13-11 scoring advantage over the last eight minutes.
Patrick O’Quinn (team-leading eight rebounds, team-high seven assists) paced the Herons with 19 points. Tucker O’Quinn (team-high six steals) followed with 18 points.
Fuller (seven rebounds) netted eight points. Hayden Stanley and Jacobs (six rebounds) contributed six points and five points respectively. Thomas added three points while Eli Thomas and Courson each bagged two points.
Herons ........................58 Worth County..............39 CANEY BAY — Tucker O’Quinn scored 20 points and Patrick O’Quinn recorded the first triple-double since 2019 leading Brantley County over the Rams.
Patrick O’Quinn scored 11 points, grabbed a teamhigh 14 rebounds and handed out a team-leading 11 assists. Jaylin Williams was the last BCHS player to accomplish the feat.
“Patrick has been close several times to a tripledouble,” Herrin said. “His 14 rebounds were needed. I thought both Jayden (Simmons) and Kent (Thomas) did a fabulous job guarding Ashton Williams. He came in averaging nearly 30 (29.6). We held him to 13 points.
“Carson (Jacobs) did a good job on the boards as well. Overall, we definitely played with more energy we did against Fitzgerald.”
Williams entered having scored 31 points or better eight times including a season-best 50 in a 98-25 win over Cook four days before Christmas.
BCHS raced out to a 224 lead over the Rams in the first period. The Herons outscored Worth County 16-11 in the second quarter to take a 38-15 lead at intermission.
The visitors outscored Brantley County in each of the final two periods. The Rams sliced outpointed BCHS 12-11 in the third stanza and 12-9 during the fourth period.
Jacobs posted a doubledouble scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 boards. Fuller (six rebounds) and Stanley netted five points each. Depratter (four rebounds) added four points with Simmons chipping in two points.
