Varsity Boys Basketball Team Wins Langan Classic Again

It all happened so quickly.

Somewhere between the time it takes to snap your fingers and the time it takes to fill that first plate on Thanksgiving Day, the SJCS Varsity basketball team broke the game open Tuesday night.

In a span of eight minutes, the Knights turned a five-point deficit into a 15-point lead and went on to a 61-30 victory over Southside Christian to win the championship of the second Langan Classic.

The host Knights, who repeated as champions, trailed 19-15 late in the first half when Bryson Smith and Deon Jamerson hit 3-pointers, the latter putting St. Joe's on top for good. Jamerson was fouled attempting a 3-point shot and made all three free throws, giving the Knights a 24-19 halftime lead.

The Knights had to wait through halftime, a slight interruption similar to waiting for the person in front of you to decide between the stuffing and the cranberry sauce. But they picked up where they left off in the third quarter.

Keon Jamerson roared down the right side on a break and threw down a dunk. Smith Crick nailed a 3-pointer, Carter Bears scored on a put-back and Keon Jamerson dropped in a pair of threes that capped a 12-2 run and made it 36-21 with 2:02 left in the quarter.

Bryson Smith, who led the Knights with 16 points, hit another 3-pointer before the end of the quarter, his fourth. The Knights made 10 threes in all, including all seven of their field goals in the first half. Jamerson's dunk was their first 2-pointer of the night.

Deon Jamerson had 13 points for the Knights, who outscored the Sabres 42-11 in the second half. Juan Montoya had nine points on three 3-pointers, and Keon Jamerson finished with eight points.

Bears had six points, Crick had five, Carl Harrison had two points and Sam Patterson and Caleb Hood each had one point.

The Knights opened the season and the tournament with a 63-41 win over the Greenville Hurricanes in the first round Monday night.

Despite the final margin, this one was not sealed for the Knights until midway through the fourth quarter, after the Hurricanes had closed to within seven points.

At that point, Bryson Smith scored on a drive and Crick hit a pair of 3-pointers, the latter giving the Knights some breathing room and a 52-37 lead with 4:25 left.

Keon Jamerson led the Knights with 18 points, Crick had 11 and Smith and Deon Jamerson each had nine points. Bears had eight points, and Phil Adil had two points.

Southside Christian advanced with a 61-37 win over Greenville Tech in the first round.

PHOTO GALLERY: SJCS VS. HURRICANES