No. 1 seed Treutlen overcame a 10-point deficit in the first half and tied it at 41-41 at the break after an Elijah Johnson lay-up in the first of two boys quarterfinal match ups Thursday at Valdosta State. Hawkinsville’s Javon Singletary got fouled on a 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds left in the half but missed all three free throws, a trend that would continue for the Red Devils in the second half. Titus Benjamin scored on a putback to open the second half and gave Treutlen its first lead since the opening quarter (43-41). A 7-2 run to open the third quarter put the Vikings up 48-43 but Singletary drilled a 3-pointer that sparked a fast-paced finish. Hawkinsville settled for several quick deep shots and Benjamin and T.K. McLendon crashed the boards and turned the miscues into Treutlen transition baskets. Foul trouble impacted both teams and McLendon fouled out with 44 seconds left as Treutlen held a 58-54 lead but Singleton missed both free throws. Johnson scored a breakaway lay-up to put Treutlen up by six (60-54). Singleton got back to the line with 22 seconds left and made the first attempt but missed the second as the deficit remained 60-55. Hawkinsville got the rebound but missed a barrage of desperation shots and Kevin Mills Jr. iced the game with a lay-up at the buzzer that made it 62-55.
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