By Tommy Howard

thoward@gtowntimes.com

Jackets from Andrews -- Yellow Jackets, that is -- stung the Kingstree Jaguars with a 7-point win over their rivals on Friday.

Both teams started off slow, with Andrews leading 9-5 in the first quarter. Andrews matched its own performance in the second period, while the Jaguars jumped forward a bit with 13 points, leaving it tied at half-time 18-18.

"There was a huge crowd," Andrews coach Kevin Branham said. Things were a little tense as the teams worked to get a feel of the game.

"By the middle of the third quarter, they had to turn people away" from the Yellow Jackets' nest because there wasn't any more room. Branham said the gym's capacity is 1,500 to 1,600 people.

"Kingstree did a good job of mixing the defense on us. Trying to slow us down."

During the break, Branham said, he stressed the need to pick things up.

"We'd make a big run. Kingstree would make a big 3, or make a steal, get a score and kept themselves in the game."

In the third quarter, Andrews led 21-14, for a 39-32 advantage.

"The guys played hard and found a way to win."

In the final quarter, both Andrews and Kingstree scored 25 points, with the final for the evening being 65-57 for Andrews.

Free throws

Tuesday night, Jan. 26, Branham told the Georgetown Times previously, the team only shot 8 for 19 from the free throw line, or 42 percent.

It was quite a different story on Friday, when the team shot 15 of 21, for 71 percent.

"It was a huge difference," Branham said.

Well-rounded game

"Stefon Collins had a big night," the coach said.

He shot 8 for 10 from the free throw line. "On top of the 20 points he scored, he also had 7 rebounds."

Cory Rush had 17 points, 10 rebounds and 4 steals.

Harold Langley Jr. scored 13, including a big 3 in the fourth quarter. He also had 4 assists, 4 steals, 1 block and 4 rebounds.

Ken Funnye added 7 points; Rodquel Davis 5; and Neal Pope 2.

For Kingstree, Devin Bey had a game-high and team-high 25 points. C. Smalls had 13; Rashard Murphy 12; Wright 3; Morant 2; and Mitchum 2.

Andrews has an overall record of 15-5, and is 5-1 in the region.

The team will travel to Pawleys Island Tuesday to face the Waccamaw Warriors.