MONTICELLO, Ga. – The Social Circle Redskins split the series Friday night when they visited the Monticello Hurricanes.

In game one, the Lady Redskins picked up a statement 58-28 win. Following that result, the boys team fell just short in a 64-57 loss. 

Each team now sits at 2-2 in Region 5A-Division I play with the split result. 

Lady Redskins win in dominating fashion

Social Circle’s 30-point win earned it the season sweep of the Lady Hurricanes for the 2023-24 season. 

Both squads traded baskets within the first 30 seconds of the contest. Then, two, three pointers courtesy of freshman Marissa Morrell allowed the Lady Redskins to gain an early, 12-6 going into the second. 

A strong second quarter sparked what would define the game for the Lady Redskins. 

Seven players put points on the board. This led to an 18-7 run in the frame to put Social Circle up 30-13 at the half.

With the game already out of reach for the Lady Hurricanes, Brielle Price put the team on her back to close out the game.

The freshman scored all 10 points for the Lady Redskins in the final frame.

Four total players scored double digits. 

Price led all scorers with 15. Stewart logged 11 points with Morrell and Jada Hyman adding 10 apiece.

Head coach Norman Jones was pleased with the effort the Lady Redskins showed with this win.

“I’m just proud of how we came out and shared the ball and played defense,” Jones said. “We were able to get some girls who were in a slump to put the ball in the hoop and start to feel their confidence and build their confidence again and that’s when we started to pull away.”

With the win, the Lady Redskins improve to 2-2 in region play and 9-13 overall. 

Jones feels that, after a statement win like this, the Lady Redskins have what it takes to bring their best against the other teams in Region 5A-Division I.

“The girls definitely want Prince [Avenue Christian], they want that game back and then Oglethorpe we spotted them 17 in the first quarter and went even the rest of the way. So now the girls are really believing,” Jones said. “Sometimes failure is on the pathway to success, and they felt that Prince game, they felt that Oglethorpe game and now they believe that we actually can win the region championship.”

The Lady Redskins will look to carry that positive momentum forward in their two remaining regular season games. They take on the Prince Avenue Christian Wolverines on Feb. 6 and the Oglethorpe County Patriots on Feb. 9. Both matchups commence at 6 p.m.

Redskins lose in back-and-forth game

A gutsy, back-and-forth game between region rivals saw the Redskins come up short against the Hurricanes in a 64-57 defeat.

The Redskins could not stop the three ball. As a result, Social Circle trailed 15-3 early in the first quarter.

Following repeated errors by the Hurricanes offense, the Redskins closed the gap with baskets from Derrick White and Justin Russell getting the team within six for a 15-9 score at the end of the first frame.

While the defensive woes against the three-point shot continued in the second frame, the Redskins capitalized on repeat mistakes from the Hurricanes.

Two big three pointers from Ethan Brown along with eight points from Russell brought the Redskins to within two.

Social Circle went into halftime trailing 27-25.

A quick three-pointer from Tivan Branch got the Redskins the first lead of the night quickly into the third frame.

The lead got up at one point to 37-29 as the Redskins move the ball well for the duration of the quarter. However, costly mistakes for the Redskins caused the Hurricanes to surge back with Randy Williams and Kemarion Thomas punishing the Redskins on defense.

A last-second tip in by the Hurricanes allowed the home team to take the lead back over the Redskins 43-41.

Both teams traded the lead back-and- forth in the fourth frame. with Williams and Thomas for the Hurricanes and Russell and Jameccus Hardge for the Redskins trading offense.

As Social Circle trailed by three, a lost possession from the Redskins sealed their fate. 

Russell led all scorers with 19 points, with Hardge and Brown adding nine each.

The loss dropped the Redskins to 2-2 in region play and 7-15 overall.

Jones said after the game that both the environment and lack of focus cost them in the close region game.

“I told them we gotta match their intensity and second-half I told them we were playing in a hostile environment, playing against refs, their senior right and we just have to lock in more,” Jones said.  “We have to be laser focused and match their intensity and we did that. I just feel bad that certain calls went the way that they did. It’s basketball. I told them that I’m proud of them and hey we’re probably gonna see them [The Hurricanes] again.”

Despite the loss, Jones spoke highly of Russell who shined in the game. 

“I’m proud of Justin because a bunch of region play was back-and-forth with me and him,” Jones said. “You know his love for Jackson where he left, getting accustomed to a new way, he finally bought in and he’s just been playing great basketball ever since.”

Jones hopes that the Redskins can take what they learned tonight and bounce back for the last few regular season games as well as the region tournament.

“I told the guys if we play like we played tonight, but fix what we did in the first quarter – coming out a little slow – we’ll be fine,” Jones said. “I think we’re gonna be able to take care of our senior night and then go down to Oglethorpe and take care of business down there and then be ready for region play whoever we gotta play.”

The Redskins will look to get back on track next week as they take on the Prince Avenue Christian Wolverines on Feb. 6  at 4:30 p.m. and the Oglethorpe County Patriots on Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m.