Watch: Mountain View's Jah-Mel Bruce explodes for 19 second-half points in playoff win

The Bears crushed Cherokee 78-46 in the first round of the Class 7A state playoffs Wednesday night

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA -- Mountain View senior guard Jah-Mel Bruce had a quiet first half for the Bears Wednesday night in the first round of the Class 7A state playoffs. 

After failing to score a point in the first half, the senior exploded for 19 points in the second half, including 12 in the third quarter, to help lead the Bears to a 78-46 win over Cherokee in the first round of the playoffs. 

Fellow senior guard Bronson Blair also put together a strong game for the Bears, scoring 16 points. Ten of his 16 came in the opening quarter. 

Kadon Crawford was the third and final Bear to score in double figures with 12, and he was also partially responsible for helping shut down star Cherokee guard Lawrence Sanford in the win. 

The Bears led 15-9 at the end of the first quarter, 33-17 at the break, and 54-38 at the end of the third quarter before going on to win by 32 points. 

“We’ve got some wonderful kids,” Roy said. “All six of our seniors have been with us and have worked their way through it. They deserve this opportunity to come out and play the way they did and I thought they did a great job of it.”

With the win, the Bears will travel to face Peachtree Ridge on Saturday in the second round of the playoffs.

“It’s wonderful,” Roy said. “This is our first time hosting a playoff game in six years, so getting back there was huge. I told the guys that we’ll get an ice bath, and we’ll take it one game at a time and enjoy it every time because it doesn’t come as easy as I’d like for it to.”