Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Young Harris Mountain Lions on Thursday evening in a 92-72 final score.
The Warriors shot 40.3% from the field and were 27.6% from beyond the arc in the loss. Jaquay Randolph led the team as he posted 17 points while shooting 7-11 from the field. Randolph was followed by Valdy Zephir with 13 points and Malachi Cooper with 11. Cooper went on to shoot 3-7 from beyond the arc. Bobby Taylor had four assists with Randolph right behind him with three.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 26 rebounds. Jaquay Randolph picked up yet another double-double game as he totaled 13 boards against the Mountain Lions. Valdy Zephir and Jamarras McCray each had three blocks in the game. The Warriors had six total steals with Josh Parker leading the team with four.
Game Vitals
Final: Young Harris 92, Southern Wesleyan 72
Records: Southern Wesleyan (7-12 / CC 4-8) Young Harris (13-6 / CC 9-2)
How It Happened
The Warriors attacked the net quickly as Will Little knocked down a three pointer. However, the Mountain Lions took the lead as Christian Drummer put up back-to-back baskets. Josh Parker drove to the basket and laid the ball up while getting fouled in the process to earn the and-one. A three pointer by Valdy Zephir allowed Southern Wesleyan to take a three point advantage over the Mountain Lions of Young Harris. The Mountain Lions would not relent as Roderick Gardner and Drummer each laid the ball up. However, Zephir slammed the ball into the basket and then Josh Parker knocked down a three to put the Warriors back on top. Jaquay Randolph wove past the defense and laid the ball up into the basket. Little stole the ball away from the Mountain Lions and then was fouled to send him to the charity stripe. He knocked down both baskets to extend the Warriors lead to 22-17 with just over twelve minutes left on the clock. Carl Cleveland got up a jump shot, but it was not enough as Jaquay Randolph sent the ball out beyond the arc to Malachi Cooper. Cooper knocked down a three to extend the Warriors lead to eight. Jalen Ware laid the ball up into the basket, but the Warriors regained their five point lead on a layup by Bobby Taylor. Young Harris would not relent as layups by Gardner, Drummer and Cleveland put the Mountain Lions on top. The Mountain Lions led 39-36 going into the locker room.
Carl Cleveland laid the ball up into the basket to start the second half, but the Warriors answered with a layup by Jaquay Randolph. The Mountain Lions pressed on as Cleveland got up a couple more shots to extend their lead to eight. A three pointer by Justin Payne allowed Young Harris to take a 51-38 point lead with just over sixteen left in the half. The Warriors would not back down as Jamarras McCray and Josh Parker put up back-to-back three pointers. Josh Parker stole the ball away and got it down to Will Little. Little slammed the ball into the basket. However, Carl Cleveland was fouled on his next shot to earn the and-one basket for the Mountain Lions. Valdy Zephir tipped the ball into the basket on a missed three pointer out of the hands of Kenyon Addie. The Warriors continued to chip away at the Mountain Lions lead as Malachi Cooper got up a mid-range shot. Jaquay Randolph got up a couple of layups, but the Mountain Lions pressed on as Justin Payne knocked down a jump shot that was just shy of the arc. Young Harris began to pull away as Cleveland got down another three pointer. Bobby Taylor hit a mid-range and then Jaquay Randolph laid the ball up into the basket. Despite a last minute three out of the hands of Cooper, the Warriors fell to the Mountain Lions in a 92-72 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will hit the road to Florence, SC on February 2 as they take on the Franics Marion Patriots at 7pm. They will then return to Central, SC on February 4 to host the Barton Bulldogs at 7pm. Southern Wesleyan will taken on the Chowan Hawks on February 7 and then the Erskine Flying Fleet on February 10.
