By Bill Glass
BPC Public Relations
MOUNT VERNON -- It is getting to be crunch time in the Georgia-Alabama-Carolina Conference basketball season, and the Brewton-Parker College Barons responded to the pressure last week by beating the North Georgia College and State University Saints 84-72 at home on Thursday, Jan. 22, then going on the road Saturday to Waleska where they beat Reinhardt College 67-61.
The Barons (9-7 overall, 4-2 GACC) have had a history of success against North Georgia, as "we match up well with them," said Barons coach Steve Barker "I thought we would give them problems."
The Barons got off to a good start and led 44-31 at the half behind 66 percent shooting. "I credit our defense," Barker said. "We held them to 43 percent shooting in the first half."
The second half was more of the same, though the Barons did have a couple short lulls and the Saints were able to close to within nine before Brewton-Parker senior guard Jarvis Smith of Atlanta hit back-to-back 3-point shots to get the Barons' lead back to 15. From then on, the game was never in doubt.
Junior post Bryan Jett of Hampton had a team-high 18 points and six rebounds, while senior post Hector Solano of Miami, Fla., put in 16 points with five rebounds. Senior forward Jarrod Greer led the scoring for North Georgia (11-8, 1-5) with 14 points.
"We had five guys in double figures, and anytime you do that it makes it hard on the opponent because you are sharing the wealth, moving the ball around," Barker said.
The Barons were still feeling good about Thursday's result on Saturday as they set out to play Reinhardt. That complacency, however, led to a nine-point deficit at the half as they trailed 35-26 after the first period.
"I told them that they had to win it if they wanted to make a run at the conference tournament," Barker said. "I told them to pick up their enthusiasm and intensity."
The Barons responded by shooting 77 percent (14 of 18) from the field and turned the tables on the Eagles (7-11, 3-3) by outscoring them 41-26 in the second half.
Brewton-Parker got solid performances from Jett, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season, and Solano with 20 points and seven boards. Junior guard Shae Blair led the scoring for Reinhardt with 18 points.
"Reinhardt had out-rebounded everyone they had played, but we out-rebounded them by four, 31-27, in on their court," said Barker, whose team posted its third straight conference win to put the Barons in second place.
Brewton-Parker has two home GACC games this week at the Student Activities Center, the first coming Thursday at 8 p.m. against Shorter College (11-7, 3-3). The Barons then entertain GACC leader and No. 14 ranked (NAIA Division I) Southern Polytechnic State University (15-4, 6-0) in a 4 p.m. game Saturday.
-BPC-
