Beach boys beat Johnson on buzz-beater, Groves’ girls make statement

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — The Beach boys’ basketball team and the Groves girls’ basketball team earned impressive wins on Friday night.

Beach faced Johnson is a Region 3-AAA showdown on Hopkins Street. The game was close all night and tied at 38 after three quarters.

In the final minute, this game turned from in-city rivalry to instant classic.

Johnson scored four straight points to take a 51-49 lead with 3.4 seconds on the clock. Keyon Sallen delivered the go-ahead shot after Johnson’s defense produced its second consecutive stop.

Beach called timeout as Johnson celebrated. The Atomsmashers’ head coach Chuck Campbell injured himself as his team celebrated. He lay almost motionless in front of the Johnson bench for several minutes.

Eventually, a wheelchair was used to help boys’ coach off the hardwood floor. Campbell stayed on the sideline and used a timeout to set up his defense for what would be the game’s last play.

With 3.4 seconds left, Beach inbounded the ball to Jayce Jenkins. The senior dribbled up the floor, past the mid-court and just short of the 3-point line and banked in a triple as the buzzer sounded. The crowd erupted with cheers and excitement as Jenkins raced all over the floor with a huge smile across his face.

“I told them just get it to me,” Jenkins said, “I’m a score it.” Came down, grabbed the ball, I ran through, saw 0.6, pull up, backboard shot. It went green. It feels like a dream come true.”

His head coach Simon Heyward, “I’m going to be honest with you. I drew up something totally different from what he did on the court. Once I seen they weren’t guarding Jayce Jenkins. I just told Demarein [Grant], just throw it to him. And we were going to try it. I was going to get across halfcourt and burn a timeout, but I gotta let my senior take the shot. We made it.”

The 52-51 victory is the fifth straight for Beach. The Bulldogs are tied with Calvary Day for third place in the standings.

In the girls’ game, Groves cruised to a 75-25 victory. The Lady Rebels take over sole possession of second place. They are 13-5 overall and 5-2 in the region.

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