By By BRUCE HIXON – Sports Editor
Big surges in the fourth quarter have started to become commonplace for the W.S. Neal Blue Eagles lately, but more importantly so have victories.
W.S. Neal won its third straight game Monday when it rallied for a 60-55 road win over the Georgiana Panthers.
Much like its two preceding wins over Straughn and Frisco City, it was the fourth quarter when the Blue Eagles (8-16) made their decisive move.
The Blue Eagles, who lost to Georgiana 56-48 back in December, fell behind 8-7 after one quarter and 23-20 by halftime thanks largely to three first half three-pointers by Georgiana's Kenny Peterson. Sherman Sanders kept W.S. Neal close with 10 of his 17 points in the first half.
Peterson had his fourth of five three-pointers in the third quarter when Georgiana widened its lead by a point up to 37-33.
Cecil Thomas, who had 18 of his game high 23 points in the second half, got especially hot in the fourth quarter to rally W.S. Neal. Thomas had a pair of field goals, a key three-pointer and three free throws.
Sanders also had a couple of key buckets in the fourth quarter, as W.S. Neal put up 27 points on the scoreboard in its decisive fourth quarter run.
Georgiana rallied from 14 points down to claim the junior varsity game 54-52.
Jamar Travis scored 14 points and Chris Brazile added 13 to pace W.S. Neal (13-5).
The Blue Eagles, who hosted Pleasant Home Tuesday, close out the regular season Friday at Flomaton.
At Georgiana
W.S. Neal 7 13 13 27 - 60
Georgiana 8 15 14 18 - 55
W.S. NEAL (2FG-3FG-FT-TP) Thomas 4-4-3-23; Sanders 8-0-1-17; McMillian 4-0-1-9; Ron. Travis 1-1-2-7; Alexander 1-0-0-2; Green 1-0-0-2 (Totals: 19-5-7-60)
GEORGIANA (2FG-3FG-FT-TP) Peterson 1-5-0-17; Matthews 6-0-0-12; Paine 4-0-0-8; Sims 2-1-0-7; Lee 1-1-0-5; Williams 0-1-1-4; Clark 1-0-0-2 (Totals: 15-8-1-55)
Junior varsity
W.S. Neal 16 16 6 14 - 52
Georgiana 10 16 21 7 - 54
W.S. NEAL (2FG-3FG-FT-TP) J. Travis 5-0-4-14; Brazile 5-0-3-13; Wilson 2-2-1-11; Shell 0-1-1-4; Mickens 0-1-0-3; Payne 1-0-1-3; Lambert 1-0-0-2; B. Bradley 1-0-0-2 (Totals: 15-4-10-52)
GEORGIANA (2FG-3FG-FT-TP) Michell 4-4-0-20; Da. McIntosh 5-0-0-10; Do. McIntosh 1-2-0-8; Cheatham 0-1-4-7; Mobley 2-0-0-4; Davison 1-0-0-2; Thomas 1-0-0-2; Sylvester 0-0-1-1 (Totals: 14-7-5-54)