Baldwin boys’ basketball extended its win streak to six this past week with the team’s 19th win of the season.
The Braves handed Spalding a crushing 86-32 loss at home last Tuesday before visiting region rival Griffin on Friday.
The Braves had not had a game decided by less than 10 points – win or loss – since a mid-January matchup versus North Augusta but took a tight 56-53 decision over the visiting Bears.
Baldwin established a solid lead early, finishing the first quarter with a 15-9 advantage. The second quarter saw both teams put up better numbers and Baldwin headed to the locker room with a 32-22 lead.
The third quarter was a big momentum shifter, as the Bears scored 19 points while holding Baldwin to just six points. With Griffin leading 41-38, the Braves needed to put together a momentum-shifting effort in the final quarter – and it came as the Braves posted 18 points while holding the visiting Bears to 12 points to reach the 56-53 nailbiter final.
Tremarius Lawrence led the Braves offense with 19 points overall, including 7-for-9 from the free-throw line. Quentrell Wells led the team in rebounds with nine and Deven Nelson led the team on defense with four steals and two defensive rebounds. Omari Woodard had two blocked shots.
This week, Baldwin’s regular season region play will wrap up as the team hosts Westside (Macon) and West Laurens in Milledgeville.
The Braves can clinch the region championship with a win and a Griffin loss or two wins if Griffin beats Howard on Tuesday night. Baldwin’s 2023-’24 regular season will end Feb. 6 with a non-region home game versus Swainsboro.