By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Pirates prevail over Rebels in OT
01.27 echs-bhs hill
Effingham County's Dimitri Hill drives the baseline before a layup against Brunswick on Friday night. - photo by Photo by Pat Donahue

Two weeks ago, the Effingham County Rebels’ comeback attempt fell short against the Brunswick Pirates. Friday night, the Pirates’ comeback try was more successful.

The Pirates’ Khalil Baker tied the game with 2 seconds left in regulation, and Brunswick stormed its way to a 73-64 overtime win at the ECHS gym.

Behind Baker, the Pirates opened the four-minute extra session with a 12-2 run. Brunswick (2-14, 2-3) didn’t lead the game until Harold Small’s layup with 6:00 left in regulation put the Pirates ahead 45-44. From there, there were four lead changes and another tie — as Nolan Spake buried a long 3-point shot with 50 seconds to go — before Baker sent the game into overtime.

Steven Tarpley’s two free throws, following a Brunswick turnover, gave the Rebels a 57-55 lead with 8.8 seconds left.
The Rebels (5-14, 0-5) broke out of the gates quickly, scoring 10 straight points to take a 14-4 lead in the first quarter. Perry Herbert started the spurt with a 3 on an assist from Tarpley, and Tarpley fed Herbert for a layup for the next score.

Brunswick closed the quarter on a 7-0 run and got within one, 16-15, on Baker’s follow shot in the second quarter. Jonathan Duff’s 3-pointer and Spake’s putback helped the Rebels build their advantage back to six points, and Effingham led 29-23 at intermission.

Effingham stretched the lead to eight, 40-32, on back-to-back baskets from Marquel Manior. Daryl Wright’s consecutive baskets staked Effingham to a 44-37 lead.

But Baker, who had a game-high 27 points, scored twice to open the fourth, the second basket cutting the lead to 44-43.

Small added 14 points for the Pirates while Troy Moody scored 11 points. James McRae had eight points and the Pirates got two points each from Jeremiah Johnson and Antonio Dunwoody.

Spake led the Rebels with 15 points, while Manior had 14 and Tarpley had 12 points. Herbert finished with eight points, Duff scored seven, Wright had six and Dimitri Hill had two points.