MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - The Berry College Vikings advanced to the SAA championship game after a dominating performance against the Oglethorpe University Petrels, the final score 84-65.
Capping off the night was sophomore Isaac Martin with 21-points, a new career high to lead the team to a victory in the Cage shooting 50% from beyond the arc with five triples.
The game begins with Petrels winning the tip, but the first bucket of the game was taken by Drew Winegarden on the break following a steal from Braxton Branham. The Vikings got out to an early advantage started by some sweet handles on a three from the Cartersville native, turning into a 9-2 run by Berry.
This advantage was short-lived, the petrels tying it back up at 13:19 by getting out and running on the break. The crowd was into it from the opening tip, moving with the defensive plays being made, a wave rising and falling in the excitement as Jacob Morgan fought down low to earn a layup. The Petrels didn't let the gutsy play shake them, coming back and gaining the advantage with a three, the score 15-16.
It was very short-lived, The Vikings regained the lead with an amazing block by Parker Godwin sparking and explosive fastbreak, pushing the ball in transition to Issac Martin for a three on the other end. The intense tone continued with an exciting stretch for defense, electric plays from both teams only made worse by ending being capped off by a three by Oglethorpe.
The Vikings on the other end answered the call, Drew Winegarden showing the range to kick off an exciting stretch for those in attendance as Oglethorpe and Berry traded threes. Eventually, The Petrels sent the Vikings to voicemail, and Berry capitalized bringing the lead to a game high of eight off of free throws from Nile King. The Vikings held on to that advantage for the most part, ending the half with a five-point lead, the score 42-37 following a last second layup from Parker Godwin.
Berry got the first possession of the second half and Braxton Branham found Parker Godwin to get things rolling with a quick layup. It seemed like Berry hadn't lost a step during their halftime break, building and keeping a lead of nine points with 16:20 to go.
The Vikings were looking to put the Petrels away with an incredible stretch on both ends. They could do no wrong, preventing the Petrels from getting anything going. The Vikings were incredibly disruptive picking their pockets and getting into the passing lanes converting them into buckets on the other.
Cameron Pope was an important piece in this stretch, pushing Berry's lead to double digits, earning an and one, following some quite literal back and forth play. With eight minutes left in the game and a thirteen-point deficit, the Petrels needed to make a run if they wanted to make things interesting, but things looked grim as Issac Martin nailed a three to bring the score up to a game high sixteen. It wasn't quite the run the Petrels needed, but the Vikings retained their momentum to bring the lead to a game high of twenty. With three minutes to go, Berry College punched their ticket to the SAA championship game. As the clock ran out, the crowd rose to their feet, giving their team a well-deserved applause.
The Berry College Vikings go for gold tomorrow, Saturday March 1st, at 5:00p.m. at the Cage Arena against fourth seeded, Centre.
