In a game that featured high-flying dunks and a total of 21 made 3-pointers, a putback by the shortest player on the court decided the Tennessee-Georgia All-Star boys’ basketball victory Tuesday night.
Former Brainerd standout Dammius Bennett — all 5-foot-8 of him — scored on a putback at the buzzer, giving Tennessee a 105-103 victory at Notre Dame High School. That gave Tennessee a 5-3 lead in the annual series.
“I told (Bennett) he was like (Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron) Artest,” said Brandon Herman from Grace Academy, chosen the game’s most valuable player. “He was at the right spot at the right time.”
Herman finished with a record 32 points and added eight rebounds. Former Cleveland standout Ish Sanders — who also won the 3-point shootout — was named Tennessee Player of the Game with 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Dade County’s Andrew Houts earned that honor for Georgia with 20 points, four rebounds and two assists. Chattooga’s Spencer London won the slam-dunk contest.
Herman had 20 of his 32 points in the second half.
“I just had to do what I had to do for us to get the victory,” he said. “We really wanted to win this game.”
Said Tennessee coach Jon Mattheiss: “I knew he was scoring, but I had no idea he had that much.”
Herman and Sanders — once teammates on the Tennessee Travelers — lobbied hard to get on the court at the same time.
TENNESSEE 105, GEORGIA 103Halftime: Tennessee, 52-40.Georgia (103) — Harrison 7, Culbreth 4, Andrew Houts 20, White 6, Spencer London 10, Jackson, Mai 4, Bell 5, Chattin 6, Perry 6, Derrick Roberts 10, Patton 3, Tyler Burse 15, Turner 3, Blair 3.Tennessee (105) — Bennett 8, Young 5, Jermel McKenzie 10, Brandon Herman 32, Wilson 3, King 4, Ish Sanders 16, Harris, Whitman 6, Jenkins 7, Reggie Gilmore 10.3-point goals: Georgia 11 (Houts 2, White 2, Chattin 2, London, Bell, Patton, Turner, Blair); Tennessee (Sanders 4, Bennett 2, Herman 2, Young, Whitman).
“They really pressed me about playing at the same time,” Mattheiss said. “It’s nice to have both of them on the same team. They’re fun to watch.”
Tennessee led 52-40 at halftime and by 13 in the second half. Georgia kept fighting back, though, closing to within 103-101 on a free throw by Ridgeland’s Dewaun Harrison, then tying the game on a putback by London with 20 seconds to go.
Sanders dribbled down for the last shot, making his move with about five seconds to go. His shot was short, but Bennett was there for the winning putback.
Tyler Burse of LaFayette had 15 points for Georgia, while London and Derrick Roberts added 10 apiece. Tyner’s Reggie Gilmore and Jermel McKenzie had 14 and 10 points.
“The game started out like a game but turned into a typical all-star game,” Mattheiss said. “It was a fun game to watch and definitely what everybody wanted to see.”
Said Herman: “This is a great honor and they can’t take this away from us. I’m glad we got the victory.”