Upson-Lee win sets up showdown with LaGrange

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 29, 2015

By Kevin Eckleberry

keckleberry@civitasmedia.com

LAGRANGE – Ty Fagan’s clutch effort from the free-throw line helped lift the Upson-Lee Knights to a 47-42 win over Lithia Springs on Monday in the opening round of the LaGrange Toyota Basketball Classic.

Fagan, a sophomore post player, was 7-of-8 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter to help the Knights prevail in a low-scoring game.

Fagan finished with 13 points, and he was one of three Upson-Lee players to reach double figures in points.

Senior guard O’Qualan Harris led the way with 15 points, and Trevon Walker added 10 points.

James Williams and Jachin Capers each scored 11 points for Lithia Springs.

In a first quarter where points were hard to come by for both teams, it was Upson-Lee taking a 9-2 lead.

The Knights were outscored 12-7 in the second quarter, but they still had a 16-14 lead at the half.

The Knights’ lead was down by 32-31 after three quarters, and they managed to hang on in the fourth quarter.

Upson-Lee will take on the host LaGrange Grangers in today’s final game at 7:30 p.m., with the winner earning the right to play for the championship on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Also on Monday, it was Mundy’s Mill outlasting Opelika 46-43.

After building a 34-17 lead at the half, Mundy’s Mill only scored 12 points in the second half, but that was enough to secure the win.

Kaelon Harris led Mundy’s Mill with 16 points, and 12 of those points came in the first half.

Cartez Crane added 15 points for Mundy’s Mill, and he made three 3-pointers.

Opelika got 18 points from Kingston Frazier, and no one else on the team had more than eight points.

Mundy’s Mill will look to move to 2-0 in the tournament with a win over WD Mohammed in today’s second game at 6 p.m.

Opelika and Lithia Springs will meet in today’s first game at 4:30 p.m.

MONDAY’S SCORES

LaGrange 73, WD Mohammed 46

Upson-Lee 47, Lithia Springs 42

Mundy’sMill 46, Opelika 43

TODAY’S GAMES

4:30 p.m. – Opelika vs. Lithia Springs

6 p.m. – WD Mohammed vs. Mundy’s Mill

7:30 p.m. – LaGrange vs. Upson-Lee

Reach Kevin Eckleberry at (706) 884-7311 or on Twitter @lagrangesports