Collins Hill was at home against Suwanee rival Peachtree Ridge on Friday, on Senior Night with a chance to tie for the Region 7-AAAAA title. If Peachtree Ridge won, it would have sole possession of first place.
Plus, Peachtree Ridge had won the first meeting between the teams this season, and Peachtree Ridge came out victorious then, 65-64.
But Peachtree Ridge put a sour taste in Collins Hill’s mouth Friday, winning 75-62. This was Peachtree Ridge’s sixth win in a row. It will be going into the tournament next week on a winning note and in first place.
Find out what's happening in Suwaneewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In the girls contest, Collins Hill won 80-71.
The boys game was two different ball games. The first half was a three-point shooting contest. Collins Hill hit eight 3-pointers and Peachtree Ridge accounted for six. Peachtree Ridge had ball-control issues the first half and kept turning the ball over. Even with the turnovers and Collins Hill’s eight 3-pointers, Peachtree Ridge was up 37-36 at halftime.
Find out what's happening in Suwaneewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Lions Coach Keith Arrington straightened his players out at halftime. The second half, Peachtree Ridge came out like lions. They controlled the boards and didn’t give the ball as much as they did the first half. They controlled the tempo of the game and kept Collins Hill from finding any rhythm.
Brandon Jack had 19 points and Eric Ryba scored 17 points for Peachtree Ridge. For Collins Hill, Andre Allen scored 19 points and behind him Saah Nimley and Herdie Lawrence scored 17.
After the game, Arrington said the key to victory was “turnovers; we didn’t give the ball up like we were the first half.”
The girls' game was a totally different ball game. Collins Hill was up 42-26 at halftime. When Collins Hill came out for the second half, it was flat and not into the game. Peachtree Ridge went on a 20 -0 run and Peachtree Ridge was up 57-50 the end of the third quarter.
Coach Scott Wild got his Lady Eagles focused, and in the fourth quarter they went back to what they knew, taking control of the inside. Peachtree Ridge had no answer for O’dez Oraedu. All Peachtree Ridge could do was foul her, which cost them the game. Three of the five starters for Peachtree Ridge fouled out in the fourth quarter.
Oraedu scored 27 points for the Lady Eagles, and Stephanie Amichia scored 23 for the Lady Lions.
Saturday evening, the regional tournament schedule will be announced for the week of Feb. 14 -20.
-----
In other action Friday, North Gwinnett's girls team knocked off host Norcross, 60-56, to clinch top seed for next week's region tournament. The Norcross boys defeated North's boys, 62-51, per news reports.
