Gainesville High School overcame a 13-point second half deficit to defeat Laney 58-55 Friday afternoon in the first of eight games during the two-day 100 Black Men of Augusta Thanksgiving Classic Tournament. The tournament, played at Augusta University’s Christenberry Fieldhouse, has run for 29 years, breaking only during the pandemic affected 2020-2021 season.
Octavion Demory scored the final 6 points of the game for Gainesville. Trailing Laney 53-51 with 2:10 remaining, Demory appeared to score a layup while drawing a foul. But after huddling, the referees made a confusing decision to waive off the basket yet award Demory two free throws. Demory made both, and a minute later he was fouled again, this time while shooting a three pointer. Demory made two of three and then the Red Elephants immediately forced a turnover. After Cade Simmons missed a three pointer, Demory gathered an offensive rebound and scored to give Gainesville a 57-54 lead with 33 seconds remaining.
Charlie Reisman scored 19 points, winning game MVP honors for Gainesville, whose Head Coach Chuck Graham is familiar to Augusta area basketball fans because he starred for Richmond Academy in the late 1980s and for Florida State in the early 1990s. Graham’s Red Elephants (2-2) have become accustomed to playing from behind early this season.
“We’re still searching for our identity,” Graham explained. “We still don’t have that consistency. In every game we’ve fallen behind by ten-plus points. But what I do like, and what I want to take away from it, is the kids showed a lot of fight. And they showed a lot of grit. But credit to Laney. They came out and brought the fight to us.”
Reisman scored 16 of his 19 in the second half when Gainesville roared back from a 13-point deficit.
MORE: No. 2 Augusta Opens at Home with 70-54 Win Over Fayeteville State
Reisman made three three-pointer shots, and so did Cade Simmons, who scored 18 points, including 13 in the first half to keep Gainesville within striking distance going into the halftime break when Laney led 34-24.
Laney was led by Kylan Hill (11 points), Mekhi Nelson (11) and Kalon Curry (9). Hill, a 6’7” sophomore, showed flashes of brilliance, blocking shots above the rim, snagging rebounds on both ends, sinking free throws and even using impressive body control in the open court while assisting Barry Wade for a layup on a two-on-one fast break to give Laney a 41-28 lead with 3:53 left in the third quarter.
In the following games, Greenbrier’s girls topped Westside 71-34 and Grovetown’s girls beat Laney 71-70. And in Friday’s finale, Augusta Christian‘s boys topped New Hampstead 67-54.
Saturday’s slate will begin with a noon matchup between Evans and Northeast Macon (girls), followed by a boys game between Glenn Hills and Evans at 3 p.m. There will be a break from basketball from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. for a “100 Black Men of Augusta Mentee Appreciation Program.” Then Westside’s boys will take on Lakeside at 5 p.m. before Greenbrier and Josey (boys) finish things at 7 p.m.
Admission is $12 at the door, and cash or Cash App was accepted Friday.
Follow Chad Cook’s coverage of local sports on Facebook and Instagram at @AugustaPressSports, and on Twitter at @AugPressSports.
