By the end of the third quarter Tuesday against Cartersville, the Sandy Creek Patriots were down 43-35 and appeared to be on the verge of losing their Region 6-AAA opener.

Creek saved its best for last, particularly Jonathan Owens, who got to a loose ball and sank a short, baseline jumper for the winning basket with 3.3 seconds remaining in Creek’s 55-53 victory over Cartersville in Tyrone.

It was a successful night for Creek, whose girls also won their region opener, 59-50 over Cartersville.

In the boys game, Cartersville’s double-digit lead evaporated in the fourth quarter, in which Creek played some of its most inspired basketball of the young season.

Brent Brewer, who had been relatively quiet until the fourth quarter, Darius Harris, Malcolm Jackson and Owens all made pivotal baskets to spark Creek’s late comeback.

In the final four minutes, there were three ties. Brewer, on a putback, and Owens, on a long-range jumper off the glass, each made shots that tied the game.

The Patriots led by as many as three, 53-50, with 2:08 remaining following a layup by Jackson off a short pass from Brewer and two free throws by Jackson.

All Creek had to do was hang on to the lead, but Cartersville’s Bryan Hall drained a 3-pointer to tie the game at 53 with under a minute left.

After Owens’ jumper put Creek ahead, Hall had a chance to win the game for Cartersville, but his running 3-pointer bashed off the backboard at the buzzer.

"We played bad for three quarters; we did not play any defense and we just got out-rebounded all game," Creek coach Rashad Muhyee said. "Not taking anything away from Cartersville; they are well-coached and they have some kids who can just put the ball in the basket.

"The fourth quarter effort goes to the entire team. The energy level came up and also the defensive effort was great."

Jackson led all scorers with 16 points. He also had seven rebounds and four steals. Harris scored 14 points and had six rebounds, and Brewer added eight points and seven rebounds.

In the early game, Creek was kept on its toes — Cartersville slashed what had been a double-digit lead to five with 3:11 left in the third quarter — but it cruised from late in the third quarter until the end of the final period.

Creek established itself early, with backcourt mates Kenneshia Rich, who hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter, and Morgan Toles running the floor and helping lead the Lady Patriots to a 21-9 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Tiffany Brown, who led all scorers with 13 points, brought Cartersville back in the second quarter, hitting four 3-pointers, as Creek’s lead was reduced to single digits, 33-26, at halftime.

Jaquaye Okai led Creek with 11 points and seven rebounds. Rich added 10 points, five rebounds and four assists. Toles, who also had seven rebounds, six steals and five assists, Aleah Hordges, Raven Moore and Lilia Stokes each scored eight.

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