Briarwood Academy of Warrenton, Georgia, defeated Augusta Prep 62-53 in the Georgia Independent Athletic Association AA Region 4 Boys’ Championship game on Friday, Feb. 14.
The Cavaliers were 17-6 going into Friday’s matchup and previously defeated Briarwood
Academy twice earlier in the season by scores of 64-34 and 57-53.
“The heart and determination of our kids. I could not be more proud of them. This win was for
Coach Buster Douglas,” said Briarwood Coach Bo Fleming.
Briarwood began the game on a 6-0 run before Augusta Prep fought back to take a 12-11 lead
after a spin layup from forward Conar Harris.
Similar to the first quarter, the Buccaneers began the second quarter on a 7-0. Cavaliers Scott
Williams hit a buzzer beater three to cut the Bucs lead to 29-23 at the half.
Another early run for Briarwood started the third quarter, followed by a strong run by Augusta
Prep, where they cut the Buccaneers lead to four points to start the fourth.
“It is game runs and we just let them have too many turns,” said Augusta Prep Coach Samuel
Gruber. “We have a talented basketball team and talent can help you hang around, but until you
bring that intensity and effort, you won’t win games like that.”
Turnovers and rebounds were a problem for the Cavaliers all night and they were not able to get
enough momentum to win the game.
“We know Briarwood is going to be extra physical and we know everything we need to do needs
to be two handed and strong.” Gruber said. “We just didn’t have that two-hand sort of urgency
and it was a lot of one hand. When you do that against a team like that, they are going to get a
majority of loose balls and rebounds.”
Briarwood Senior Sam Mock led them with 25 points. Augusta Prep leading scorer Elijah
McFadgen finished with 16 points in the game.
Augusta Prep and Briarwood playoffs will begin next week. Dates, time, and location is to be
announced.
“I challenge the attitude and intensity they bring,” Gruber said. “Some of the seniors might have
three practices left in their career. We are we going to learn and respond from this or are we
going to let it get the best of us. I hope we’re going to respond.”
Christopher Rickerson, an Augusta University graduate, has covered area sports for Augusta University, The Augusta Press and Augusta Good News. Subscribe to the Augusta Good News newsletter here.
