Glads gain ground in sub-region with win over Winder-Barrow

By Jeff Cochran

jeff.cochran@onlineathens.com

Starting slow but finishing strong, Clarke Central was able to knock off Winder-Barrow for the first time in its last eight tries Tuesday, beating the Bulldoggs 62-57 in overtime.

The win, the Gladiators' fourth straight, pulls them into a tie for second place with Winder-Barrow in Region 8-AAAA North at 5-2 behind Madison County , which beat Apalachee on Tuesday.

Clarke Central has three games left in the regular season.

Winder-Barrow beat Clarke Central 63-59 in overtime on Jan. 15 in the first meeting between the two teams.

"It wasn't about how many times we've lost to them," Clarke Central senior Babatunde Olumuyiwa said. "It was about winning a game that we really needed to win."

The Gladiators picked up their first lead since the first quarter with 4 minutes, 51 seconds remaining in the game. The teams would exchange the lead twice more before ending regulation in a 50-50 tie.

Both teams had chances to take the edge in the last 30 seconds of the game, but neither was able to get a shot off in their last possession.

"I thought we had them in the first game in Winder," Clarke Central coach Billy Wade said. "But that was coulda, woulda, shoulda. I thought we outplayed them. We were able to play as a team tonight."

The Gladiators opened the overtime period with a seven-point run and scored 12 points in the extra period.

Clarke Central was led by Taylor Layne, who finished the game with 20 points and 10 rebounds and Olumuyiwa added eight points, eight rebounds and six blocks. Arion Bolds scored 12 points.

Winder-Barrow 's Trent Demeritte led all scorers with 26 points and four steals. Alonzo Nelson-Ododa added 11 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks.

In the first quarter, Winder-Barrow (16-5) built a 17-8 lead with a seven-point run to start the quarter and a 10-point run to end it. The Bulldoggs led by as many as 12 points in the first half.

"We just weren't going through our sets," Olumuyiwa said. "Everybody's head was still kind of messed up. But we rallied and were able to win it."

During the slow first half, Layne scored 14 of the team's 23 points before scoring just six in the second half.

"Taylor is Taylor," Wade said. "We call him Taylor-made. He is going to battle. I wish we could get him for four more (years)."

Clarke Central (14-4) will travel to sub-region leader Madison County (7-1 in Region 8-AAAA North) on Friday before wrapping up the regular season with games against Habersham Central and Apalachee .

"If we keep playing, we will peak at the right time," Wade said. "That is what I keep telling these guys. Tonight, we were able to play like we are capable of playing."