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South Effingham Tops Effingham County 61-55
Michael Hall, Warren Roundtree Spark Mustangs’ Rally in ‘New Rivalry’ Win
South Effingham Basketball
South Effingham’s Michael Hall drains a three-pointer over Effingham High’s Elyjah Doty with under five minutes left, sending the crowd into a frenzy. (Gilbert Miller / Effingham Herald)

SPRINGFIELD, Ga. – South Effingham boys basketball coach Rico Campbell says the series with Effingham has become a “new rivalry.” The Mustangs didn’t have to wait long for their second win in the series, beating their neighbors 61-55 before an engaged crowd at Effingham High School Tuesday night. “We’re 2-2 in the new rivalry,” Campbell said.

Hall Sparks Late Surge
Junior guard Michael Hall scored 16 of his game-high 24 points in the second half, while Warren Roundtree hit key fourth-quarter baskets as the slow-paced first three quarters turned into a frenzied shootout during the final eight minutes. South (7-7) has won four straight games, and Campbell credited improved play from Roundtree and Quinton Williams as the difference. “Warren not being afraid to take shots and Quinton taking better shots. And both are playing good defense,” he said.


South Effingham Basketball
South Effingham’s Hayden Lloyd scores late with a high-arching shot off the glass over Effingham High’s Isaiah Brown, helping preserve the Mustangs’ five-point lead. (Gilbert Miller / Effingham Herald)

Rebels Fight Back
Effingham (4-6) won the first meeting between the two teams 43-37 on Dec. 6 by using a patient offense to slow down the Mustangs. That approach worked early Tuesday, with the Rebels leading 8-7 after the first quarter and staying close, 24-22, midway through the third quarter. Hall’s long three-pointer with 14 seconds left in the quarter gave South a double-digit advantage, 36-26. The Mustangs extended the lead to 40-27 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

“It’s hard to play from behind,” Effingham coach Tramaine Aaron said. “The lesson for us is to be more patient on offense. Our defensive intensity picked up but it was too late. Better late than never, but we have to play four quarters instead of one.”

Thrilling Finish
The pace picked up in the final seven minutes as both teams traded big shots. Hall hit two three-pointers, and Roundtree added a dunk and a three-pointer to hold off Effingham’s rally. Roundtree finished with 13 points; Williams had eight. Jordan Drayton scored 11 of his 13 points and Isaiah Brown added eight of his 13 in the fourth quarter as the Rebels cut the Mustangs’ lead to five with 2:47 left. Drayton’s three-point play with 40.3 seconds remaining made it 57-53.

Effingham outscored South 29-25 in the fourth quarter, but 5-foot-9 Hayden Lloyd stepped up with two baskets to preserve a three-possession lead until the final 40 seconds. “We’ve played a competitive schedule,” Campbell said. “I think we’ll be prepared for the subregion. I think we have a shot.”