AA basketball blog: Dream remains alive for Spencer boys

Downtrodden teams talk all season about making their move at the region tournament and reaching the state playoffs. It makes for a good motivation technique, but it rarely pans out.

It worked for the Spencer boys, who beat Carver Columbus in the second round of the Region 5-AA tournament on Tuesday and earned an automatic spot in the state playoffs.

Spencer (8-15) picked the right time to get hot. Tuesday was only the second time all season it has won consecutive games. The Greenwave will now meet top-seeded and No. 1-ranked Jordan in the semifinals on Friday night.

Spencer was led by Cornelius Brown, who had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Marcus Tate, who had 11 points and nine rebounds. Carver got 21 points from Jarvis Reese.

Spencer entered the tournament as the No. 8 seed and beat Kendrick 97-96 in triple overtime in the first round.

In girls play …

In Region 5 at Hardaway, Kendrick (17-8) beat Callaway 17-8 behind a 28-point effort of Khalia Lawrence and earned a place in the state playoffs. Kendrick will play top-seeded and No. 10-ranked Heard County on Friday.

In Region 2 at McIntosh County Academy, eighth-seeded Appling County pulled a mild upset with a 50-48 win over fifth-seeded McIntosh County, and St. Vincents ousted Pierce County 36-25. The tournament continues Thursday at Brewton Parker College, with Appling playing Brantley County and St. Vincents meeting Vidalia in the quarterfinals.

In Region 3 at Dodge County, Bleckley County beat Southeast Bulloch 45-40 in double overtime and East Laurens beat Swainsboro 49-0 to reach the quarterfinals. On Wednesday, Bleckley meets Dodge County and East Laurens plays Screven County, with the winners going to state.

In Region 8 at East Hall, Desha Beasley scored 13 to help Banks County defeat Jefferson 52-45. Jefferson’s Skyler Evanson made six 3-pointers and scored 26 in a losing effort. Other quarterfinal games saw Dawson County edge Elbert County 50-48 and Hart County beat Fannin County 48-39. The girls quarterfinals will be Thursday at East Hall.

Other boys …

In Region 2 at Toombs County, Toombs beat Jeff Davis 62-51 and Appling County beat Brantley 54-46. The tournament moves to Brewton Parker College for the quarterfinals on Thursday, with Toombs playing Brantley County and Appling playing Tattnall; the winners earn a spot in the state tournament.

In Region 3 at Dodge County, Dodge routed Jefferson County 69-34 and Bleckley eliminated Screven County 80-49 to reach the quarterfinals. Dodge plays Dublin and Bleckley meets Swainsboro on Wednesday, with the winners advancing to state.

In Region 8 at East Hall, Union County scored a late bucket to beat North Oconee 57-56. The Wednesday quarterfinals, with winners going to state, feature Dawson County vs. Elbert County, Union vs. No. 8-ranked East Hall, Hart County vs. Rabun County, and Banks County vs. Jefferson.