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The LaGrange boys basketball team was back on its home floor, hosting Heard County for the team’s home opener in front of a packed gym. The Grangers commanded the game from the offset and routed the Braves 69-53 to keep up a winning start to the season.

It was Torian Reeves’ night. The senior scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Grangers to victory. After going scoreless in the first quarter, Reeves exploded in the second with seven points and carried that momentum in from there. 

“It feels amazing coming out here and playing in front of the fans because I don’t know how many more of these I have left,” the senior said. “We were missing a couple key players tonight, so it took a total team effort.”

Reeves was explosive all night, throwing down a trio of rim rattling dunks, including one late in the third quarter that dropped the jaws of the entire student section.

“It feels amazing to look over and see them going crazy,” Reeves said. “I go to school with them and a lot of them are my friends, so it means a lot for them to come out here and support us.”

Reeves continues to get better and coach Mark Veal expects the senior to improve over the course of the season as well.

“I expect that he will get even better as the season goes along,” Veal said. “He looks more explosive and athletic than he did last year. There are a couple of things that he has to do better, but he is a special talent.”

The Braves gave LaGrange trouble late, cutting the Granger lead down to seven points in the fourth quarter. The home team did just enough to close out the fourth quarter and walk away with a win.  

“We really let them hang around in the game too long and basically what happened was that we got too relaxed down the stretch,” Veal said. “

There was no let up for the LaGrange offense whether it was the first or the second unit on the floor. The Grangers used an early surge to take a 20-10 lead after the opening quarter. Javon Nelson got off to a quick start with seven of his 11 points in the first half. 

“I thought Nelson and Jalen Hardy got off to a good start for us, but Hardy got into foul trouble and that really slowed him down after he got off to a good start,” Veal said. 

Hardy finished with six points in the game.

The first half was all Grangers as they were able to take a 17-point lead into halftime. While the Braves fought and clawed to get back into the game, the closest they would come would be the seven-point deficit with just under three minutes to go in the game. 

Avion Davis helped LaGrange close out the game in the fourth, scoring six of his 10 points in the period.

The Grangers were assessed an early technical foul in the game for taunting, an emphasis in the offseason for GHSA officials. 

“Taunting has been a big emphasis for GHSA this year,” Veal said. “They are kids out there, but they have to do better trying to control their emotions in the game and that is all I will say about that.”

LaGrange improved to 2-0 on the young season. The Grangers will return to action at Northgate on Friday. 

“It is still early in the season and there are some things we have to clean up,” Veal said. “It’s a long season and we are just getting started.”