Basketball’s opening night was fantastic!
No. 2 Augusta won on the road behind 23 points and 6 assists by the amazing Ja’Queze Kirby. Returning state champion Augusta Christian topped returning runner up Butler with a late bucket by DJ Shine, and returning champs Grovetown and Westside delivered a thrilling closer in the finale of the Ricky Moore Invitational at Westside. The night cap went the way of the Warriors, who got brilliant performances by junior Derrion Reid and seniors Malik Ferguson and FrankQuon Sherman.
Jones County, head coached by Buck Harris, former Laney coach and former Augusta University and Westside star, topped Laney in a kind of double homecoming game for Harris.
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No. 2 Augusta Wins Opener
Augusta topped Mount Olive 81-76 on the round in the first of two games in two days at Mount Olive College. Ja’Queze Kirby, seen here giving the Jaguars some breathing room late, led four Jaguars in double figures with 23 points (11 of 16 shooting). Kirby also dished 6 assists.
The Jaguars were in the sharing mood as Augusta tallied 21 assists to Mount Olive’s 11. 7’1” center Tyshaun Crawford (Sr.) scored 18 points, snagged 8 rebounds and handed out 4 dimes himself.
Not to be outdone, the school’s all time assist leader, senior leader Tyree Myers distributed a team high 7 assists to go along with 14 points. The third senior leader tonight for Augusta was Miguel Arnold, who scored 11 points and grabbed 7 boards.
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Hot Start to the High School Season
Much more from basketball’s opening night will be covered in Monday’s “Best of the Best” column. But I’ll leave you with this game clinching 6-2 run by Grovetown, the returning 6A champs, in a 79-73 win over returning 2A champion Westside.
Chad Cook is a sports columnist who is known on the field and court as AugBball. Follow him on Instagram @AugBBall
