Jefferson County Warrior basketball off to strong start

Tuesday night the Jefferson County Warriors grabbed it’s fourth win a row and its third region win against Central Macon, 64-55.

That score is deceiving because the Warriors trailed 14-4 early.

“We came out flat. The game starts and we aren’t shooting the ball well or moving on defense," said Jefferson County Warriors Head Basketball Coach Kelvin Farmer. "But I have to give them credit that we started to close the lead and just kept battling and ended up coming back and getting the win.”  

Senior guard Jordan Kitchens led all scorers with 18 points including 12-of-14 from the free throw line. Forwards Keyshaun Lee and Lathan Brown canned 16 points each. Bryce Brown put in nine points and A.J. Bush finished with five points.

Jefferson County had two early losses in the first three games versus Hancock Central and Vidalia.

“Hancock was just the first game out and we knew that," Farmer said. "Vidalia on the other hand is a very well coached fundamentally sound team that shoots the ball well but plays absolutely amazing defense. We played them before Thanksgiving break and that was almost a month ago, and I can promise you we are a different team now than we were.”

One of the biggest differences is the players are starting to play together and the guard play is improving along with the post and inside players are becoming a force inside.

Looking at the schedule going into the break, fans and players alike relish the single digit, 57-56 victory over rival Swainsboro, but that hasn’t been the defining moment of the first half of the season according to Farmer.

“Honestly, the Swainsboro win was big," he said. "They are a traditional power and have been a region foe at times. We stepped big and made two free throws late and it’s been a long time since we won on the road at Swainsboro. So far, the game that helped get us back on the right path was the 49-45 loss against Hepzibah.

“Hepzibah is always athletic and competitive and we should have beat them. We missed 18 free throws in that game. After that loss, we had to really come together and understand we can’t miss 18 free throws, not play defense, and not play good team basketball. I think now we understand as long as we do what we do well and not try to do things that we can’t do, that we have an opportunity to be competitive in every game. That loss refocused it and the result was being able to win the next four games.”

Farmer is proud of the momentum the Warriors are creating but knows the second half of the season is going to be a tougher test. The day after Christmas Jefferson County faces Laney and the road and hosts ARC on 12/27.

“Right now we simply have to take one game at a time," Farmer said. "Monday night, Jan. 6, which will be our first game back from Christmas Break, we host Dodge County. Dodge is a really good basketball team and we will be ready but this is one that we are going to need the fans to come out to support us and see some good basketball.”

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Jefferson County Warrior basketball off to strong start