Game Stories, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Morgan County gets its revenge on Jenkins; sweeps AAA titles

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No. 1 Morgan County 66, No. 5 Jenkins 56


No. 1 Morgan County (26-4) completed the difficult task of sweeping Class AAA following the No. 1-ranked girls team winning their first title since 1983. Jailyn Ingram and Jordan Ford’s size inside wore down the smaller No. 5 Jenkins Warriors (28-5) as the Bulldogs avenged last year’s 62-60 loss in the final seconds, 66-56.

Jenkins led 12-11 at the end of one and was able to use its speed against Morgan County’s size. Zion Williams scored eight of his 15 points in the first half and began a surge to give the Warriors the lead after trailing 21-16. Williams ran off six straight points to give Jenkins a 24-23 lead with 2:17 to play.

The Warriors held a 28-26 lead at halftime but Coach Jamond Sims’ size was starting to chip away at Jenkins, causing foul trouble for star junior Trevion Lamar, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder. Lamar finished the night 2-of-9 from the field with just five points, seven rebounds, three turnovers and four fouls.

“You have to kind of crowd him when he gets in his sweet spots. He kind of got a little bit hesitant especially when he picked up his early two fouls,” explained Coach Sims. “Once they inserted him back in we chose to keep going at him.”

The Bulldogs went on a 12-4 run to end the third quarter and gain a 42-38 lead entering the fourth that they would never relinquish. Jenkins cut the lead to four at 47-43 after Dimetri Chambers connected on a three-pointer, part of his team-high 17 points, and again at 53-49 after another Chambers bucket, but the Warriors would get no closer.

Ingram was the beneficiary of the Bulldog attack. The Florida Atlantic signee scored 11 of his game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter and pulled down nine rebounds in his final game. Ford added 17 points and five rebounds of his own.

Morgan County’s senior class of Jailyn Ingram, DeVorious Brown, Jordan Ford and Emmanuel Little, highlighted by FAU signees Ingram and Brown, were the foundation of an incredible senior class who’s worst season ended with a loss in the Elite Eight.

“Those are kids that have won over 100 games in their career. Been to the state championship three times.”

Their championship pedigree shone through as Brown tallied eight points and four assists while Little added six points and three assists.  Freshman Alec Woodard chipped in seven points and eight rebounds, a part of a bright future. Michael Coffee finished with 11 points and seven rebounds in the loss for Jenkins.

Morgan County shot 57.1 percent to Jenkins’ 32.3.

Game Stories, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Greenforest suffocates St. Francis to deny Knights of three-peat

No. 1 Greenforest 78, No. 2 St. Francis 66

Following a disappointing 96-81 championship loss at the hands of St. Francis last year, the Eagles were prepared to slow down five-star McDonald’s All-American and Arizona-commit Kobi Simmons in order to end the Knights’ quest for a three-peat. Behind a dominant defensive performance and a relentless attack from New Hampshire signee John Ogwuche, first-year head coach Larry Thompson and the Eagles captured their second state title in school history, 78-66 in the Class A-Private state championship.

Ranked nationally throughout the year and the owner of the No. 1 ranking in the state the entire season, Greenforest (30-2) made sure it wasn’t going to have a letdown against No. 2 St. Francis (23-8), who came in winners of 10-straight by an average margin of victory of 28.7 points. Greenforest’s size advantage was apparent early as 7-foot junior Ikey Obiagu swatted a shot and came away with a dunk before Precious Ayah, a Miami (OH) signee, added a rim-rocking jam of his own to race out to an intimidating 6-0 lead.

At the end of one, the Eagles led 12-7. Simmons was held scoreless. Obiagu was a difference maker after being a complete non-factor in last year’s loss. The big man fouled out in the fourth quarter but scored six points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked six shots while on the floor.

Greenforest went up 17-8 after Ogwuche found Justin Forrest for an And-1. At the 4:53 mark Simmons finally found the bottom of the net, sinking two free throws to make it 19-13. Simmons did much of his damage from the line as the Eagles focused their game plan around stopping the highly touted recruit, holding him to 8-of-25 shooting; 12-for-18 from the line worth 31 hard earned points.

“That was the game plan,” said Thompson. “We knew he was going to get touches but we didn’t want those touches right on the three-point line. 35-feet out so we could run a second guy at him because I face-guarded him all night. I didn’t want him to get comfortable on that wing and do what he does best, score the basketball. So we had to make him uncomfortable.”

As much as Simmons struggled in the first half (9 points on 1-9 FG), the Knights kept it close. Wallace Tucker drained a three to close the lead to 26-24 with 1:06 left. Ogwuche hit a back-breaking jumper at the horn to build the Eagle lead to 34-25 at the half.

The Eagles came out guns a’ blazing in the third quarter to take a 41-27 lead after Obiagu hit a layup and Ogwuche buried two threes. The senior burned St. Francis for 28 last year in the finals and did it again this season, torching the Knights for a game-high 27 points and five assists connecting on a whopping 14-of-23 free throw attempts while assaulting the rim.

“Wow. What can I say that he didn’t do today? Justin [Forrest] had foul trouble. Jandan [Duggan] had foul trouble. John wouldn’t take no for an answer. He wasn’t losing that basketball game. He put us on his back in the second half [16 points] and willed us to victory. Kid wanted the ball. New Hampshire is getting a heck of a guy next year.”

The Knights trailed by as many as 16, down 51-35 in the third before entering the fourth quarter down 57-45 after Simmons and Abayomi Iyiola traded buckets.

Greenforest’s lead grew to 66-51 with 4:26 remaining before Simmons got hot after a 4-of-18 start to the game. Simmons sparked a 9-3 run by netting seven consecutive points to bring it to 69-60 at the 2:17 mark but a 6-0 spurt keyed by four Ogwuche free throws and a Victor Enoh dunk saw the lead balloon back up to 15 at 75-60 with 1:12 left.

Forrest, a junior, posted 13 points and six rebounds while Ayah went for 10 points and seven rebounds. Iyiola came off the bench and tallied 17 points and seven rebounds in Obiagu’s absence. Chance Anderson was the only other Knight in double figures outside of Simmons with 12 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks.

Greenforest was the team to beat all year long but now that the Eagles have the trophy to go along with their great resume, the target is undeniably placed on their back heading into next season.

“That was the goal. We were here last year on the wrong end of it, feeling bad. Guys worked all year. It’s an incredible feeling to beat St. Francis. First class organization, first class program.”

Game Stories, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Miller Grove hangs No. 7 in defensive war with Allatoona

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No. 1 Miller Grove 50, No. 2 Allatoona 48

Head Coach Sharman White said before the game that No. 1 Miller Grove (30-2) needed to attack to beat No. 2 Allatoona (31-1) and that’s what they did. They attacked the Buccaneers not only on offense but on defense, surviving previously undefeated Allatoona 50-48 for the program’s seventh title in eight years after Ephraim Tshimanga was unable to get a shot off on the Bucs’ final possession.

Allatoona controlled the tempo and contained Miller Grove’s explosive offense led by McDonald’s All-American and UConn signee Alterique Gilbert. The Bucs got off to a hot start with a 4-0 lead, but turnovers throughout the game prevented Allatoona from taking a complete grasp of the game. 23 turnovers haunted the Bucs while the two teams combined for 24 in the first half with Miller Grove committing just three errors in the second half.

Allatoona turned Miller Grove’s turnovers into seven points in the first quarter. An unexpected lift came in the form of 6-foot-7 senior Randy Legros. The defensive specialist attacked Raylon Richardson and got him into foul trouble early. Legros finished with eight points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

The Wolverines surged ahead to take a 24-20 halftime lead behind the play of Gilbert. The star guard netted eight of his 15 points in the second period. Both he and Aaron Augustin caused the Bucs fits by attacking the hole relentlessly, the two combining to go 13-of-19 from the foul line on the night.

 

Down four at the half, it was still a game that Allatoona felt it had a chance to win by slowing down one of the state’s most potent offenses. After Miller Grove extended its lead to 27-22, its largest of the game, Allatoona stormed back with a 9-0 run to take a 31-27 edge with 3:30 remaining. With 1:36 to play in the third, sophomore guard Trey Doomes began his first battle with cramps with the Bucs still leading by four.

Allatoona pushed its lead to 37-32 after Doomes found Kevin Perry for an And-1 with 1:19 left, but Augustin would put the Wolverines on his back to end the quarter, collecting a basket plus the foul and then a steal and a lay up to tie the game at 37, five of his team-high 16 points.

The Wolverines trailed 40-37 entering the fourth after Perry banked home a three-ball. Up three with 6:34 remaining, Doomes started to cramp up again. Richardson who was surprisingly outplayed by Legros, nailed a clutch three to knot the game at 44 at the 4:46 mark, still anyone’s game.

Tae Hardy found a bucket inside to regain the lead for Miller Grove 46-44 with 2:35 to play. Down two with 1:44 to go, Doomes missed two free throws and Colin Young made him pay with a jumper to make it 49-45.

Augustin fouled Perry on a three on the following possession and the Coastal Georgia signee sank all three, cutting it to 49-48 with 1:08 left. Mr. Georgia Basketball, Gilbert, was sent to the line with a chance to ice the game but missed the front end of the one-and-one allowing Coach Markus Hood to diagram a play with 19.5 seconds to go.

Instead of getting off a shot, it was Young who came away with the steal and was fouled in the open court.  Young split his free throws with five seconds left setting up one last opportunity for the Buccaneers to complete a dream season and go undefeated but Tshimanga lost the ball on Joshua Jackmon’s leg as it was knocked away and Miller Grove fell on it to secure another banner for Coach White.

Tshimanga, a senior, finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and three steals in his final game. Perry added 13 points while Doomes had an up-and-down night with seven points, five rebounds, five assists but eight turnovers.

Young, who scored eight points on the night, was the key to the Wolverines’ success late.

“He stuck with it. He missed a couple shots he felt like he should have hit earlier, so he was kind of down but he fought through. Just typical of the way he plays. He’s never going to quit and he’s going to keep on fighting and he made two huge plays down the stretch for us,” explained Coach White.

Allatoona didn’t throw any curveballs Miller Grove’s way, even with the emergence of Legros inside.

“They were who they were. They executed their game plan. We knew it was going to be a tough battle,” said White. “Of course you want to win this game in a way where you don’t have to work as hard but we were prepared for a dog fight.”

For a second straight season, it was Allatoona coming up just short on the big stage. Last year’s 49-32 loss to Brunswick was a case of sour shooting but this year the Bucs shot well, hitting 51.6 percent of their shots compared to Miller Grove’s 42.5.

Coach Hood’s four seniors, Dylon Ramsey, Ephraim Tshimanga, Kevin Perry and Randy Legros were paramount to Allatoona’s success.

“Their leadership kept us together and kept us marching forward,” explained Hood. “And tonight, Miller Grove was let off the hook. We had them. But that’s ok. Because you know what’s more important than the scoreboard out there? It’s the journey we had with our young men.”

“If he [Legros] doesn’t get in foul trouble tonight, we win that game tonight. He brings us a presence in the paint. He was the best big man on the floor tonight and I thought it was obvious.”

Game Stories, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Wendell Carter Jr. dominates feisty Manchester for Pace Academy’s first title

No. 3 Pace Academy 65, No. 10 Manchester 43

They say you can’t teach size, but you can coach up talent and after years of hard work which have resulted in him being regarded as the top ranked junior in the nation, Wendell Carter Jr. shined on the biggest stage in the Class AA state championship, carrying No. 3 Pace Academy to its first-ever title 65-43 against an overmatched and overpowered No. 10 Manchester Blue Devils.

The Knights didn’t give Manchester any hope of a David vs. Goliath scenario, jumping on the Blue Devils 12-0 to begin the game highlighted by Barrett Baker’s two threes and an And-1 layup. Things quickly got worse when Isaiah Kelly drove and found Carter inside for a two-handed slam.

All night long Manchester had no answer for Carter who demolished the Blue Devils for 30 points (10-of-11 FG), 20 rebounds and three blocks. They tried physical play that boarderlined on dirty led by Bobby Stevenson, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound enforcer, but Carter kept his cool even after he was slow getting up after Stevenson kicked him in the head after going for a loose ball.

Pace Academy led 21-8 at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter Demarcus Addie tried to rally the Devils and hit a three to make it 34-24, but the Knights quickly added back onto its lead and took a 38-24 advantage into the break.

The third period was low scoring as Manchester closed on a 7-0 run to keep things respectable, winning the quarter 10-9 and trailing 47-34 entering the fourth. Addie scored two of his team-high 14 points to cut the lead to single digits at 47-38 with 6:24 remaining but that was as close as the Blue Devils would get. Baker, who scored 16 points, hit a floater that sparked an 18-5 run to end the game and cap off the Knights’ first title.

Manchester struggled to score against Pace’s larger front line, shooting just 27.1 percent. Leading scorer Demarcus Addie was harassed into 5-of-18 shooting and just 1-for-7 from beyond the arc, Manchester 2-of-19 as a team.

Game Stories, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Liberty County rides youth to first-ever state title

No. 2 Liberty County 58, No. 1 Jonesboro 52

Youth was served on Friday night in the Class AAAA state championship as No. 2 Liberty County held on and knocked off two-time defending state champ No. 1 Jonesboro 58-52 for the program’s first title. The Panthers (28-1) held the Cardinals (28-5) to 33.3 percent shooting and limited Jonesboro to just one offensive rebound in the first half. The Panthers, known for their firepower, proved they could grind out a defensive battle with one of the state’s most hard-nosed groups.

Juniors and sophomores led the way for Liberty County. Five-star UGA football-commit Richard LeCounte attacked early and often. After three ugly misses to start the day, the uber-athletic guard began to settle in and netted 14 of his team-high 20 points in the first half while grabbing nine boards on the night. The Panthers took a 14-10 lead after the first period and extended their advantage to 22-13 before Jonesboro ripped off five straight. At the half, Liberty County held a 26-22 lead. MJ Walker Jr., Jonesboro’s star junior guard, was harassed into a 6-for-17 night after pouring 30 on the Panthers in last year’s 71-43 semifinal win. He scored the final four points of the half but never caught fire.

Auburn-commit Davion Mitchell was held scoreless in the first half on 0-of-4 shooting but it was sophomore Will Richardson who stepped up big time for Liberty County, scoring seven of his 19 points in the first 16 minutes. In the third quarter it was time for Mitchell to shine. His first points came in the open court on a fastbreak one-handed jam that made it 30-22. Next with 5:20 to play in the quarter, Mitchell splashed a three-pointer and was fouled to cap a 7-0 run to start the half. He scored the seventh of his 14 points on the night with seconds left on a layup making it a 37-30 lead heading into the final frame.

Davion Mitchell found a way to win on an off night
Davion Mitchell found a way to win on an off night

Jonesboro, battled-tested so many times before, was not about to lie down and die. Walker buried a three with 3:35 remaining to cut the deficit to 43-39. With 2:58 left, the officials missed a charge on Mitchell. It looked like Zerrick Cooper was set early and took it on the chest, but instead Mitchell was sent to the line and drilled both foul shots to make it 47-41.

Walker split a pair of free throws with 1:48 left closing the gap to 50-48, the closest the Cardinals would get. From there the Panthers finished the game on an 8-4 run sparked by a LeCounte jumper and free throws from Richardson and Mitchell.

Youth was a reoccurring theme throughout the game. Mitchell and LeCounte, both juniors who combined for 34 points, will return next season to defend their crown. Sophomore Will Richardson is also a blossoming prospect, but maybe the most impressive of all was first-year head coach Julian Stokes, a 24-year-old.

One title in one year. Not a bad start for Julian Stokes.
One title in one year. Not a bad start for Julian Stokes.

The game plan for Stokes was simple.

“We had to force him [MJ Walker] to beat us by himself. Just not letting the others get their opportunities and I think our defensive execution was great,” explained Stokes. “We pulled everything out that we prepared for and we came out with the trophy.”

The stars were expected to get theirs. Walker, Mitchell and LeCounte all scored the ball well for their teams, but it was Richardson who was the X-factor for the Panthers.

“This was a moment I’ve been waiting for. He stepped up and made a name for himself tonight and I’m proud of him for that. I’ve been waiting all year for him to wake up and he’s finally awake. He’s going to be a great kid. Look out for him.”

As well as Coach Stokes prepared his team he reflected all the praise to his players.

“All I can say is it’s all about the guys. They put in the work day in and day out. They work together, they play together and we came out with the W.”

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