- May 1, 2024
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Tyrell Martin and the Sandcrabs explode after taking the lead late over Westside Jacksonville. Photos by Jeff Dawsey
Austin Edds nailed three big three-pointers to keep the Sandcrabs within reach of the comeback.
Coach Pep Johnson was well-pleased with his team' s performance.
Before Seabreeze ever scored a point, they trailed the Westside Wolverines 19-0 in the first quarter. Despite going down big, the Sandcrabs fought back to win the game 60-59 on Saturday, Jan. 14, at Atlantic High School.
“I never saw a team come out and jump us like that. They hit five three-pointers in a row, but I knew they couldn’t keep shooting like that,” said an emotional coach Pepper Johnson. “We haven’t had a win in a long time. I’m proud of these dudes.”
After the first (down 29-7) and second quarters (down 39-17), it seemed like only a matter of time until Westside would force the 35-point mercy rule against Seabreeze, but the second half played out completely different.
Seabreeze began the third quarter with a 14-0 run, forcing turnovers and missed shots, and, toward the end of the quarter, the Sandcrabs had taken their first lead of the game, which sent their bench into a frenzy. The teams were tied 46-46 going into the fourth quarter.
“Coach told us to work hard, play defense and just keep up the intensity,” said Devin Daversa, on Johnson’s halftime speech. “He told us to never give up.”
Both teams traded leads throughout the fourth quarter. But, in the last 15 seconds of the game, Seabreeze trailed 59-57.
The Sandcrabs missed the tying basket, but Jalen Green — who missed all of his first-half shots — rebounded the ball, stepped behind the three-point arc and sank the go-ahead shot with five seconds remaining.
“I knew I was gonna make it,” said, who went 4-for-five beyond the arc in the second half. “I had a lot of confidence at that point. I got shooter’s mentality.”
This was the Sandcrabs’ fifth win in 19 games, but, according to coach Johnson, it was their biggest.
