Newton Citizen

SUWANEE -- Nothing was easy for the Rockdale basketball teams Tuesday in Suwanee.

After the girls came from behind to beat Peachtree Ridge 58-56 in double overtime in the opener, the boys erased a seven-point deficit and held off the Lions 84-81 in non-region action.

Charles Moore had 22 points and LaRonta Parks added 21 for the Bulldogs, who won their third consecutive game, but trailed 63-60 late in the third quarter after Peachtree Ridge capped a 10-1 run. That was the last lead the host Lions would enjoy. Freshman Connor Ferrell knocked down a 3-pointer, one of 13 made by the Bulldogs, on a pass from Parks, to start Rockdale on a 9-0 spurt and put the visitors up 69-63 at the start of the fourth.

Peachtree Ridge hung around, thanks to senior guard Benny Johnson, who scored a game-high 23 points, and Brandon Jack, who added 16, including a put back to get the Lions to within 80-78 with 1:23 left.

Rockdale held an early lead of 13-8 as Moore had consecutive three-point plays. Peachtree Ridge clawed back and eventually grabbed a lead as large as seven at 24-17, with Johnson hitting three field goals to close the first quarter. The teams went back and forth in the second with the Bulldogs tying the game at 37-37 on three of C.J. Wilson's 14 points, but Peachtree Ridge's 7-0 run made it 44-37. Rockdale again started strong in the third as Moore hit three 3-pointers, while Parks and Darious Mitchell (16 points) hit one each to put Rockdale up 59-53.

Rockdale, which improved to 5-2, hosts Clarke Central on Friday.