The Sandy Creek Lady Patriots jumped out to a 6-0 lead in their game against the Stephens County Lady Indians and never looked back. Sandy Creek led 16-8 at the end of the first quarter and 32-15 at the half, as Kenneshia Rich hit three of her four three-pointers in the second quarter.

The Lady Patriots continued to play stifling defense in the second half and cruised to a 63-47 win.

“We try to play good defense every night and tonight we came out playing well from the start. Everybody got it done,” said head coach Leslie Cooper, who agreed that her team couldn’t have scripted a better opening round performance.

The girls were led by 16 points from Rich, while Morgan Toles and Jaquaye Okai each scored 15 points.

The Lady Patriots will play on Wednesday, but there opponent was unknown as this article was being written.

The boys game was an entirely different story. The Patriots hosted the Oconee County Warriors and the Warriors came out to play.

Blake Brewer scored nine of his 16 points in the first quarter as Sandy Creek opened up a 16-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Patriots pushed it to a 28-18 lead at the half, but fans could tell Sandy Creek was not playing their best game and Oconee County was not going away.

The Warriors stepped up their defense in the second half and got the lead down to four points, the lowest it had been since the opening quarter. They looked liked the hungrier team and brought the Sandy Creek lead down to one point with just under 45 seconds to play in the game. Malcolm Jackson hit a huge shot with 30 seconds to go and Sandy Creek was able to hang on for the 48-45 win.

“It was ugly,” admitted head coach Rashad Muhyee, who agreed that it was one of his team’s worst performances before adding, “but a win is a win.” Muhyee also credited Oconee County for playing a great game. “They are well coached and play good fundamental basketball. We just came out flat.”

Jackson and Brewer each had 16 points for Sandy Creek. The Patriots will play at Flowery Branch on Tuesday evening.

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