By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com
 

          Yes, Upson-Lee has trailed this season.

          Why, the Knights have even trailed at home, in the postseason, not taking the lead for good against Salem in the second round until the second quarter.

          This? This was different.

          The Knights scored first against Sandy Creek in Friday’s GHSA Class 4A semifinal at Fort Valley State, and didn’t lead again until the third-quarter buzzer, thanks to Zyrice Scott’s timely steal and layup in the final seconds.

          That put Upson-Lee up 43-42, but it didn’t mean much in a fourth quarter of a tie and three lead changes and opportunities galore for both teams.

          A missed Tye Fagan free throw with 30.3 seconds left and one by Cam Traylor with 9.9 left kept the door open for a massive Sandy Creek win that would stop a 61-game winning streak.

          Travon Walker shut that door by standing in the way of a driving TJ Bickerstaff and letting the Seminole bounce off him and put up an off-balance, falling-down shot that was closer than expected as the clock ran out.

          For all of the plays that could have decided the game and for those that did, hunger and effort were apparently the difference.

          “They’re a great team, they’re well-coached, they had a great game plan,” Fagan said. “They came out and wanted it more than us. They got all the loose balls. They outplayed us the first half. They showed they wanted it more.”

          As was discussed at halftime, Sandy Creek up 37-30.

          “Quick word,” U-L head coach Darrell Lockhart said. “’Do you want to go home? Do you want this to be over? Because this is the way you’re playing.’ (The Patriots) were getting loose balls, they were getting easy shots.

          ““The second half, the true U-L came out, on the defensive end, which is where the ballgame was won.”

          Sandy Creek scored five points in the quarter, a free throw with 5:34 left and a steal and layup at the 1:37 mark. The Seminoles went scoreless on six straight trips.

          And then U-L defense. Scott ame up with the steal and layup on the quarter’s final play, and the Knights led 43-42 entering the fourth.

          The Seminoles retook the lead, for all of 11 seconds, then tied it with 2:37 left on a long 3-pointer. Walker had a shot blocked, then returned the favor. One trip was a mess of action underneath with maybe a half-dozen tips and swats.

          The Knights then survived the different-halves game.

          “I thought we played on our heels the second half,” Sandy Creek coach Jon-Michael Nickerson said. I thought we were playing  (more not) to lose. You’re not still attacking.

          “We were on our heels and they were on their toes.”

          The game is likely to benefit the Knights as they go for win No. 63 in a row, against St. Pius, which had a full battle as well with Baldwin in the other semifinal. There is likely to be a discussion or two in the days leading up to Saturday’s 4 p.m. finale about hunger and effort.

          “It’s gonna be a good week of practice,” Lockhart said. “I’m looking forward to it.”