Sports
Peebles Pushes Past South Gallia
By: Seth Austin
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Beau Justice and the Peebles Indians knocked off the last two remaining Tri-Valley Conference teams on their way to a district title. Peebles defeated South Gallia Saturday 66-58 for the program’s third ever district crown.
“I’ve been impressed with the basketball down here,” Peebles head coach Josh Arey said. “The physicality of the last two teams will only help us as we move to the regionals.”
Justice, the District 14 Player of the Year, dropped 32 points in the win for Peebles. His explosive performance comes just four days after he dropped 26 points on Trimble, eliminating the Tomcats from postsesaon play with a buzzer beater.
“He’s something else. The kid works his butt off,” Arey said. “He has an unbelievable work ethic. He deserves everything he gets. Anytime No. 12 has the ball in his hands something good is going to happen.”
South Gallia led by eight after one but once point guard Brayden Greer got in foul trouble the Indians were able to make a run. At the halftime buzzer, Justice hit a runner to tie the contest up at 25.
Peebles exploded for 23 points in the third frame to take a a 10 point lead into the final eight minutes. South Gallia attempted one final comeback getting as close as three but Peebles’ free throw shooting down the stretch secured their district championship. Behind Justice and junior guard Zach Arrasmith, Peebles hit 10 free throws in the final three minutes of the game.
Greer finished with 11 points for the Rebels, nine coming in the final period. The South Gallia point guard also recorded five assists and two rebounds.
Waiting for the Indians in the regional semifinals is Afrocentric, the No. 4 seed who defeated Fairfield Christian to reach regional play.
“We’re playing with house money,” Arey said. “Afrocentric, we’ve seen them. I know Coach Bates will have them prepared and we’ll do likewise.”
Tip between the Nubians and Indians will be March 11 at 6:15 p.m. from the Convocation Center.
Photos from Peebles win over South Gallia from WOUB's Nick Bolin