Most Viewed Stories
- COLUMN: The both of best worlds: Foreign worker’s tragic death hits home
- COLUMN: Learning to read is like juggling
- COPTER CLAMOR: Residents up in arms over proposed helicopter tours near Kelly Plantation
- Destin Dog Park wins Community of Excellence Award
- RON HART: Biden his time and doing Obama’s bidding
Blowout begins — South Walton Seahawks top Nashville Eagles in OT
Boys’ play continues today at Freeport High. The girl’s side of the tournament begins at 2:30 p.m. today at Freeport Middle School.
Game 1 is Walton vs. Cookeville.
Game 2 begins at 4 p.m. and is between Ponce de Leon and Oliver Springs.
Game 3 at 5:30 is Paxton and Glencoe.
Game 4 at 7 p.m. is Freeport vs. White Plains.
The Basketball Blowout will wrap up on Friday with the girls championship game slated for 6 p.m. followed by the boys title game at 7:30 p.m.
After trailing by 11 points early on, the South Walton Seahawks rallied to post a 52-49 win in overtime over the Nashville Christian Eagles in the first game of the Hilton Sandestin Beach Basketball Blowout at Freeport High Tuesday morning.
"We went to a man and got more aggressive on defense in the second half," said South Walton Coach John Davies.
____
For photos, click here
____
Down 28-21 at the half, South Walton got its first lead of the game midway of the fourth quarter. South Walton’s Edward Howard, who finished with 25 points, swished a 3-pointer then came right back with a steal for a layup to put the Seahawks on top 39-36.
Nashville made a steal for a layup, then South Walton answered with another trey from Howard for a 42-38 advantage. Nashville's Jacob Burns made a baseline shot, then South Walton's Lucas Heitman put a rebound back for two points, and Elisha Gundrum made a pick and turned it in for a quick layup and a six-point lead. In the last 20 seconds of regulation, Nashville's Burns and Lee Dreadon hit back-to-back 3s to force the game into overtime.
In overtime, South Walton's Heitman made four of six tries from the line and Shafer Martin hit an inside shot for the win.
"We put a little more pressure on them in the second half," Davies said. "They (Nashville) could shoot."
In the first quarter, Nashville's Burns came out hot drilling three 3-pointers and two field goals. Nashville led 20-10 at the end of one.
In the second quarter, South Walton picked it up and outscored the Eagles 11-8. With three minutes left in the second, South Walton closed it down to a three-point game with Gundrum hitting a jumper followed by a putback bucket from Howard. Nashville answered with back-to-back baskets by Dreadon and J.J. Embry for a 28-21 game at the half.
To start the third, Nashville came out with Burns making a field goal and a trey to go up 33-21. But the Seahawks came roaring back with Gene Hasse hitting two baskets and Eric Shmits popping a 3-pointer. By the end of the quarter, South Walton had closed it down to a 35-33 game.
For the game, South Walton was led by Howard with 25 points. Martin and Heitman each scored seven, while Gundrum and Hasse each hit for four points.
Tops for the Nashville Eagles was Burns with 25 points. Corey Givens and Dreadon each tossed in nine points each.
South Walton will take on the winner of the Paxton vs. White Plains game on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Freeport played Oliver Springs in the final game of Day 1 of the four-day tournament. Results were not available at press time.
