The Coastal Georgia Mariners overcame a sluggish first half to storm back and defeat Brewton-Parker 91-84 onSaturday afternoon in Mount Vernon. The comeback victory improved the Mariners' record to 6-7 overall while the Barons fell to 9-3.
Trailing 40-31 at halftime after struggling from the field, Coastal Georgia came alive in the second half with a dominant performance that turned the game completely around. The Mariners shot a blistering 60.6 percent from the floor after intermission, making 20 of 33 attempts while going a perfect 15-for-15 from the free throw line. The second-half surge erased what had been a 12-point deficit and allowed the Mariners to seize control down the stretch.
Derrick "Mannie" Harris led the way with 18 points, including a perfect 9-for-9 performance from the charity stripe. Harris scored 11 of his points in the second half while consistently getting to the free throw line in crucial moments. Thaddeus Burns provided excellent support with 16 points and went 6-for-6 from the free throw line, while also contributing three assists and three steals.
Jeremiah Camara was sensational off the bench, delivering a perfect 6-for-6 shooting performance for 13 points. His efficiency in the paint gave the Mariners a consistent scoring threat. Braden Wood chipped in 10 points with two three-pointers and six rebounds, while Aamir Mack provided a valuable spark off the bench with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting. The bench unit combined for 27 points.
Isaiah Edden added eight points with a pair of clutch three-pointers in the second half that helped ignite the rally. Alexandre Zambonetti contributed seven points in the first half, helping keep the Mariners within striking distance, while Kycean Pruett added seven points including clutch free throws in the final minute.
For Brewton-Parker, Tommy J Tisdale III led all scorers with 19 points, including four three-pointers. Abraham Garjah was a force in the paint with 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Jayden Hill scored all 11 of his points in the first half with three triples but was held scoreless after intermission as the Mariners' defense tightened.
The game featured eight lead changes and seven ties, with neither team able to pull away until the final minutes. The score was tied at 52-52 with just over 11 minutes remaining before Coastal Georgia finally seized control for good with a six-point advantage in the final two minutes.
Free throw shooting proved to be the difference in the tightly contested affair. The Mariners went 22-for-23 from the line for an impressive 95.7 percent, compared to Brewton-Parker's 11-of-14 for 78.6 percent. That advantage at the charity stripe more than accounted for the seven-point final margin.
The victory showed character and toughness from a team that refused to fold despite trailing by double digits in the second half. The clutch free throw shooting and improved offensive execution in crunch time were particularly encouraging signs as the Mariners look to build momentum.
