Tyree Taylor made some tough shots around the basket to lead Suwannee in scoring on Thursday. He helped the Bulldogs win their season opener against Bell.

LIVE OAK, Fla. — Tyrece Freeman and Tyree Taylor saved the day for the Suwannee High basketball team.    

After some missed free throws and an untimely foul allowed Bell to come back in the final minute of regulation, the junior guards took over in overtime to lift SHS to a 66-55 win in Thursday’s regular-season opener. 

The duo combined for eight points in the extra period as Suwannee outscored Bell 14-3. Taylor finished with 24 points and seven rebounds while Freeman added 19 points in the Bulldogs’ home victory.  

“It was a fight, but we pulled through,” said Freeman. “We fouled them at the end and they tied it up, but we just kept on playing defense and fighting. We had the crowd with us, the bench was lit and they kept hyping us to keep going.

“This is going to be a great year for us.”

Suwannee 66, Bell 55

Bell	12	16	11	13	3	—	55
Suwannee	14	12	13	13	14	—	66

Tyree Taylor 24, Tyrece Freeman 19, Kenneth Ivey 13, Brant Ulmer 5, Jay Campbell 2, Malachi Roberson 2, Jarrett Gardner 1

After Bell’s Tyler Trantham was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 10 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, he knocked down all three free throws to tie the game at 52 and send it to overtime. 

But Suwannee didn’t waver. 

Bulldogs coach Jeremy Ulmer pointed to experience, and having a fresher squad, as the difference maker in overtime. BHS was a little shorthanded after standout guard Ian Townsend fouled out.   

“I think we wore them out, Ulmer said. “Their point guard that brings the ball up so well was out of the game and that makes a big difference. 

“Having been there before that helps a lot. That’s why we went with that older group for us.”

Senior Brant Ulmer got Suwannee going in OT with a putback basket and a free throw to give his team a three-point lead. Ulmer scored all five of his points in overtime and also had an important block. 

Then Taylor kept the momentum going with a few nice plays. First, he skied for a rebound and went coast-to-coast for a layup in heavy traffic. A minute later he converted an and-one to put Suwannee ahead 62-55.  

Taylor and Freeman weren’t the only junior guards who had a big game for Suwannee. Kenneth Ivey poured in 13 points and added three steals in his varsity debut. 

Ivey scored a few fast-break baskets in the first quarter and helped SHS start the game on a 9-0 run.    

“Kenny’s stepping up real big for us,” said Jeremy Ulmer. “He’s playing great defense, he’s got those long arms and he gets up the court real quick.”

After Suwannee made an early run, Bell started to take control in the second quarter, grabbing a 28-23 lead. Bell looked poised to pull away a few different times — going ahead 34-28 in the third quarter and 47-42 in the fourth — but Suwannee turned up its defensive pressure to get back each time.

UP NEXT

Suwannee hosts Columbia tonight at 7 p.m.