Words by Skylar Lara | Images by Justin Hunter
The Bevill State Bears returned to Songer Gym on Thursday, January 25, to face Coastal Alabama North in a thrilling matchup. Both teams demonstrated unwavering resilience, engaging in a fierce defensive battle and refusing to yield. Ultimately, Bevill emerged victorious, propelled by standout performances from Taveon Goode and Ja’Myas Davis.
The game started with Coastal Alabama North winning the opening tip-off, but a slow start ensued as both teams traded turnovers and missed shots. After a brief struggle, Bevill’s Taveon Goode broke the deadlock by scoring the first points. Despite Coastal Alabama North tying the game at 6 with 15:47 left in the first half, Bevill, recognizing the shift in momentum, called a timeout. Responding to the challenge, Taveon Goode swiftly hit a three-pointer to regain the lead, only to be matched by Coastal Alabama North. The back-and-forth continued, with Bevill’s Quin Brooks scoring inside to reclaim the lead. After ten minutes of intense play, Bevill held a slim lead of 14-13. The ‘Man-High’ offense faced challenges, resulting in turnovers, but Taveon Goode’s and-one play provided the spark needed, pushing Bevill ahead 22-17. The competitive spirit persisted, and at halftime, Bevill led 30-23, with Jose Gonzalez’s buzzer-beating corner three adding to the momentum.
In the second half, Coastal Alabama North adopted an aggressive approach, while Bevill focused on ball control and feeding the ball inside to Ja’Myas Davis. Tensions escalated after Taveon Goode’s breakaway dunk extended Bevill’s lead to eight points with 16:06 remaining. Coastal Alabama North responded tenaciously, narrowing the gap to just two points. However, Bevill’s Isiah Daniels and Donovan Shangase found success from beyond the arc. With one minute left, Bevill led 61-55. Coastal Alabama North fought back, hitting a crucial three-pointer to reduce the deficit to three points. A full-court press attempted to force a turnover, but Bevill held on. Despite missed free throws, Bevill maintained a 63-60 lead with 11.2 seconds remaining. Coastal Alabama North’s attempt to force overtime fell short as they missed a deep three-pointer, securing Bevill’s 63-60 victory.
Ja’Myas Davis led Bevill with 17 points, followed by Taveon Goode with 12 points and Quin Brooks with 10 points. Coach Billy Conner reflected on the game, saying, “We didn’t play the best, but the kids found a way to win.”
Following this triumph, the Bears faced Marion Military Institute on January 29 on the Tigers’ home turf, suffering a narrow 90-88 defeat. Bevill’s next challenge awaits as they go head-to-head against Snead State in an away game on February 5. WL
