The clash of the champions.
#1 vs. #2
A packed house, college coaches, Penny Hardaway all here to see the two best teams in the Memphis area settle some unfinished business.
And what a game it turned out to be.
Juwan Johnson (Southwind) tipped in an missed shot at the buzzer lifting the Jaguars past Ridgeway 74-72 in overtime commencing a fantastic comeback which saw Southwind down by as many as 16 points.
The Roadrunners of Ridgeway came out like they were shot from a cannon. Cameron Golden (Ridgeway) was "en fuego" from deep and after 14 quick points the talented senior point guard had his squad up 24-13 to close out the 1st quarter.
Southwind narrowed the margin with some timely buckets in the second quarter from Deckie Johnson (Southwind) to close the gap at 34-26 at the half.
More of the same in the third until the Jaguars started to chip away at the double digit lead and with 5 minutes remaining Juwan Johnson scored 5 consecutive points and the spark of Peyton Husley (Southwind) added another bucket and closed the gap to 58-55.
Back and forth went the remainder of regulation as the squads traded buckets before Deckie Johnson slipped in for a putback giving Southwind their first lead of the game at 61-60.
Adam Weary (Ridgeway) made the second of two foul shots and knotted the game at 61 before Husley nailed a big three and the Jaguars looked to be in control 64-62.
Jonathan Burroughs-Cook (Ridgeway) drained two foul shots knotting the game at 64 before Brandon Lewis (Ridgeway) missed his short jumper at the end of regulation to force the overtime.
As the overtime began the teams traded a few buckets before Husley snuck into the lane and hit a runner giving Southwind a 72-70 lead.
Ridgeway countered with Golden penetrating the lane with a sweet dish to an open Lewis and another tie at 72.
The Jaguars went for the win as Jonathan Williams (Southwind) drove the lane and kissed it off the glass only to have it roll off and into the hands of Juwan Johnson who layed it back in for the victory.
The brothers Johnson led the Jaguars with Juwan leading all scorers with 21 and Deckie adding 19. Husley was big for Southwind contributing 12 points while Williams finshed with 11.
Golden led the Roadrunners with 20 points including 6 three's. Weary finished with 19 and Lewis added 10 in the narrow loss.
Both teams will be in action this weekend at the inagural Penny Hardaway Hoop Fest which tips tomorrow at White Station High School.
