Our Sonic Drive-In-Player-of-the-Game for Saturday, January 27 is Jimmy Johnson of the Eastside (Gainesville) boys’ basketball team.
Johnson tied for a game-high 12 points as Eastside won its fourth game in a row with a 46-41 win against city rival P.K. Yonge.
The senior didn’t score until the second quarter, when he chipped in five, and he didn’t score in the third quarter, but it was his clutch free throw shooting down the stretch that helped the Rams (16-4) snap a three-game losing streak to the Blue Wave (10-10).
Twice in the final quarter, Johnson was fouled shooting behind the arc. He ended up making 7-of-8 free throws in the fourth to help the Rams survive.
This was on the heels of a third quarter in which Eastside shot just 1-of-8 from the line, which helped P.K. Yonge get back in the game and ultimately take the lead in the fourth quarter. However, the Rams would finish 10-of-13 in the final quarter to keep their winning streak in tact.
Senior Malik Robertson started hot, scoring eight of his 12 in the opening quarter, but Johnson led the team in scoring in the final eight minutes. Junior Israel Wilcox led P.K. Yonge with 11.
Eastside will host Williston on Tuesday, while P.K. Yonge will travel crosstown to face St. Francis Catholic Academy.
Every game The Prep Zone will recognize a Player-of-the-Game. The recipient receives a $10 gift certificate courtesy of Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville & Ocala.
