Tae Mayes scored 9 points to lead Griffin High in a 54-40 loss Tuesday night at The House against Region 4-AAAA Div. B first-place Jonesboro (15-4 overall, 10-1 Region 4-AAAA Div. B). Jonesboro sweeps the season series with Griffin.

Griffin (11-9, 5-6) held its own in the backcourt, as most of its points came from working the arc and penetrating with its small guards.

Going into the post, however, was a different story.

Chukedubem Okeke, the Cardinals' 6-foot-8 Winthrop University recruit, proved to dominate on both sides of the floor. With nine points, nine rebounds, and five blocks, he seemed to be at the center of Jonesboro's game plan. Okeke didn't just block Griffin's shots, his long arms and strong frame sent them flying into the stands. He was the only player with any blocks for the Cardinals on Tuesday, and his 3.5 blocks per game equals Jonesboro's team average. Even with Okeke as a total mismatch, the game didn't get completely out of hand until the second quarter.

In the first quarter, four Griffin players scored including a J.T. Williams 3-point shot that put the Bears down one to Jonesboro's 10 points. Griffin was called for several personal fouls at the start of the game, but good free throw shooting from both teams down the stretch basically equaled out. In the second, Jonesboro's Brandon Black went off, making four straight field goals and propelling the Cardinals to a 33-21 halftime lead.

Griffin got as close as 35-26 with 6:16 left in the third, but Jonesboro held its ground with threes from Casey Wells and Deantre Mack to push into the fourth with a 43-29 lead. Mayes scored the first basket with 7:41 left in the last period on a nice reverse layup, and cut the lead down to 10 two minutes later on a pull-up jump shot. Even with this late push, the Bears couldn't convert, and left the spread in double digits to end up losing by 14.

Griffin's top performers include Kelvin Waldon with 8 points, Williams with 5, and Jaquez Parks with 5 on 3 for 4 shooting at the foul line. Mays enjoyed 3-for-3 shooting from the charity stripe.

The Bears will try to break their four-game losing streak as they host last-place Upson-Lee at 7:30 p.m. on Friday then travel to cross-town rival Spalding on Saturday in a rematch of their Jan. 11 win.

GRIFFIN HIGH BOYS

Date| Opponent |Time

11/19 |vs. Lowndes |W 74-58

11/20 |vs. Valdosta |W 71-67

11/27 |WOODLAND* |W 50-22

12/4 |Stockbridge* |W 69-67

12/7 |DUTCHTOWN* |L 53-48

12/8 |HENRY CO. |L 61-56

12/11 |L. GROVE* |W 62-39

12/14 |E. Landing* |L 74-41

12/15 |LAMAR |W 61-44

12/18 |Lamar |W 63-46

12/21 |vs. Pike Co. |W 63-41

12/22 |vs. Upson-Lee |L 63-58

1/4 |Jonesboro* |L 46-39

1/5 |Dutchtown |W 65-58

1/8 |Upson-Lee* |W 69-65

1/11 |SPALDING* |W 53-48

1/15 |Riverdale* |L 74-69 OT

1/18 |N. Clayton* |L 61-45

1/19 |NORTHSIDE-WR |L 76-69

1/22 |JONESBORO* |L 54-40

1/25 |UPSON-LEE* |7:30

1/26 |Spalding* |7:30

2/1 |RIVERDALE* | 7:30

2/5 |N. CLAYTON* |7:30