In a key region matchup on Friday, the Langston Hughes Panthers defeated the Newnan Cougars 73-67, handing the Cougars their first loss of the season and creating a three-way tie for first place in the Georgia High School Association Class 5A, Region 3 standing between the two teams and the Dutchtown Bulldogs.
"This is the team who we are," Langston Hughes head coach, Elliott Montgomery, said following the Panthers win, praising his team for their efforts to secure Friday's victory despite their leading scorer, Andre Jernigan leaving the game with a wrist injury in the first quarter and not returning to action for the rest of the game.
" It was next man up," Montgomery said as the Panthers would be led by Kendrell Agnew, who finished with 20 points and Addison Dyer adding 16 points. "The truth is, to come here, with all of the people, the environment that they have, the parking lot was full when we pulled up, and win despite our leading scorer [getting injured], the kids did a great job," Montgomery said, crediting Newnan for how well they played.
The two teams will meet again next month when they close out the regular season at Langston Hughes, who's only region loss came at the hands of Dutchtown.