With a chance to upset the defending state champions of Class AA, the SCHS Gamecocks went 3-12 from the foul line in the fourth quarter to fall to the visiting Dublin Irish 68-60 at the Harold Lee Scott Gymnasium Saturday afternoon in a Region 3AA crossover contest. 
On Jan. 29, the day before, Southeast Bulloch fell victim to the Red and White by a 72-58 margin in the final 3AA-A contest of the season.
Standing at 9-13 on the season, SCHS has finished fourth in the A subregion and will face either Bleckley County or Toombs County in the first round of the 3AA Tournament at Brewton Parker Feb. 17. The winner of that contest will face the 3AA-B champion the following night.
For now, the team will face its final pair of regular season contests in Eastman against Dodge County in the final 3AA crossover match Friday night before returning home to face Class A power Portal in senior night at the HL Scott Gym on Saturday night.
About to be blown out after a less-than-inspired first quarter that saw them trail 21-9, the Gamecocks of Brent Anderson picked up steam against Dublin in the third quarter as SCHS trailed only 44-36 after three periods. Staying within striking distance for the entire fourth quarter, cutting their deficit to four twice, the outcome may have hinged on the charity stripe. That’s where the Gamecocks had a very off night.
Just 10-25 for the night, the team went 3-12 in the fourth. Those nine misses included the front end of a pair of one-and-ones. When the score reached 61-57 at the 29-second mark and 64-60 at the 9-second mark, the verdict could easily have been very different.
P.J. Reason had 24 points and 12 rebounds and Fab Mills 22 points, while Cornelius Roberts had nine rebounds.
SEB, 19-point losers to the Gamecocks in Brooklet on Jan. 5, gave the Roosters some truly anxious moments on Friday night. After some early lead changes, the home team seemed to pull away with a barrage of three-pointers to close the first quarter.
Two treys each by Mills and Nigel Campfield over a two-minute span helped turn a 15-12 deficit into a 26-17 lead after the buzzer. The SCHS lead was still at five at 36-31 at intermission.
The Jackets came out hot in the second half, quickly knotting the game at 36-36 at the 6:50 mark. Taking a 40-38 lead, the Blue and Gold visitors led for better than the next six minutes, their largest at four points on three occasions.
Down by one after a Mills’ free throw, Reason made a steal and hit Mills for an open layup with just 3 seconds left in the third quarter to give SCHS a 47-46 lead and they never trailed again.
Though SEB stayed within six for most of the quarter, when the outcome hinged on free throws, on consecutive trips down the court, Campfield, Reason and Campfield again drained two each and the lead eventually stretched to its final at 72-58.
Mills finished with 22, Reason and Campfield with 16 each, and Roberts with 11. Both Roberts and Reason had eight rebounds, while Mills picked up a season-high seven assists.