WS Reynolds 60, East Forsyth 57
Reynolds 15-15- 8-22 -- 60 East Forsyth 15-10-19-13 -- 57
East Forsyth (5-18, 3-7) Brion Jones 16, Jalen Thorns 13, Reeves 8, Rhodes 6, Leggett 5, Lyles 5, Ritchens 4.
RJ Reynolds (15-8, 9-1) Jaben Mars 23, Leach 12, Johnson 9, Lumpkin 7, Murphy 6, Davis 3.
RJ Reynolds rallied late to avert an upset behind a huge effort from center Jaben Mars, holding on for a thrilling 60-57 win at East Forsyth in Kernersville Friday night. The Demons, who clinched the Central Piedmont 4A Conference title with a win Tuesday night at home against CPC runner-up Glenn, led by as many as nine early in the second half before the Eagles rallied, taking the lead midway through the third quarter & holding it until the final minute.
RJR led throughout a tight first half behind the play of Mars, who grabbed 10 of game-high 16 rebounds in the first two quarters including three of the Demons’ six offensive rebounds for baskets in the game. After a 21-21 tie with three minutes left in the half, Reynolds scored 15 of the game’s next 20 points across halftime to take it’s largest lead (36-27) 90 seconds into the third period.
East then went on a run of it’s own, scoring 19 of the next 21 points over a decade six-minute period to take it’s largest lead of the game (46-38) early in the final period. The Eagles maintained a two-possession led throughout much of quarter until Mars’ three-point play with 2:29 cut the EF lead to one (57-56) & his layup with 90 seconds left after two missed EF free throws put RJR back in from 58-57.
The Eagles’ Zyun Reeves & Brion Jones, who led his team with 16 points on his Senior Night, missed shots in the lane on the next two East possessions & Reynolds’ Caden Davis scored his only basket of the night on a break-away dunk with 11 seconds remaining to seal the win.
Jalen Thorns added 13 for the Eagles & Reeves grabbed 11 rebounds & blocked four shots in the loss. East Forsyth will begin CPC Tournament play on Monday night. Reynolds & Glenn earned first-round byes and will play Tuesday & Wednesday respectively in the CPC semifinals against opening-round winners.
Courtesy of East Forsyth assistant boys basketball coach Bill Armour