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Analysis

Player Analysis: No. 3 Alexander 75, South Paulding 65


2022 6-3 G Zion Fruster – Alexander
There’s a lot to like about Zion Fruster’s game, a wiry guard with size that has started picking up serious interest, logging an offer from D-II UVA Wise just last week. Fruster is a consistent scorer on the perimeter. He gets great lift on his jumper, able to pull-up and elevate over defenders. He has an easy release and is good both off the catch and off the dribble. In the fourth quarter, he found his points at the rim, finishing in transition and through traffic. Fruster finished with 23 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist. He’s one of the better stock risers in Georgia, as a versatile guard that can play either the 1 or 2.

2022 6-6 W Jah’Kim Payne – Alexander
Jah’Kim Payne is a smooth multidimensional player that can play 1-5 at the high school level. Payne is a Swiss Army Knife. He can initiate the offense with his ball handling and court vision, serve as a slasher on the wing or anchor himself in the high post and decide whether to attack or distribute. Payne glides to the rim, scoring on finger rolls as he slices through the defense with his long strides. He came up big in the fourth quarter with eight points, six via drives while also making plays on defense. His length and mobility help him defend all positions, giving him great switchability whenever screens come into play. Jah’Kim finished with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. His combination of length, size, versatility and skill should put him squarely on college radars, especially D-II programs.

2023 6-5 W Marvin McGhee – Alexander
McGhee provided some timely buckets when South Paulding was threatening. He helped keep the Spartans at bay with a pair of threes and a drive. McGhee isn’t as long or athletic as Payne, but he’s a serviceable combo-forward that can spend time playing inside or out. He was effective on the glass and made a huge block in the fourth quarter in transition that led to a four-point swing, making the game 61-54 instead of 59-56. Marvin tallied 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block.

2024 6-2 SG Andrew LaVigne – South Paulding
The growth and confidence of Andrew LaVigne is shining through more and more often. The sturdy shooter caught fire in the third quarter to bring the Spartans to within one after trailing by as many as 12 points. LaVigne poured in three threes in the frame and hit five for the game. Andrew plays with good balance and gets his feet set and shoulders squared quickly when locating the rim. He has a pretty shot and moved well without the ball on cuts to the basket. LaVigne netted a team-high 22 points. If he is able to maintain his consistency and continue to improve, he could be South Paulding’s most dangerous scorer next season, part of what will be a veteran backcourt with major experience.

2023 6-2 SG Randy Harris – South Paulding
Randy Harris opened the game passing the ball exceptionally well, hitting cutters with sharp bounce passes as the on-ball pressure of Alexander forced the Spartans to initiate their offense far from the basket. Harris was able to calmly survey the floor and fit the ball to teammates when they had a window to score. After a scoreless first half, Harris started to hunt his offense as the game wore on, getting downhill using his leaping ability to score at the rim. Harris scored 13 points, 10 in the fourth quarter as he implemented floaters and scored in transition. South Paulding needs Harris to stay aggressive. Sometimes he can fade into the flow of the game without being a factor, but when he’s looking to attack, the Spartans are at their best. Harris’ energy led to 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.

2023 6-2 CG Jeremiah Taylor – South Paulding
Coming off the bench as he recovers from an injury, Taylor provided a nice spark with 11 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. Typically South Paulding’s leading scorer and best player when healthy, Jeremiah was able to bring a change of pace as a sub. Going up against the length of Alexander was a tough task as Taylor’s offense primarily comes at the rim. He was able score all five of his field goals in the paint, but had to work extra hard to do so. Even while it wasn’t his best offensive production, Taylor was able to make positive contributions elsewhere, especially with his passing. Unlocking a consistent three-point shot is still the deciding factor as to how special Taylor can be.

GHSA, GHSA Basketball

SportalShowcase Preview

SportalShowcase
SportalShowcase

Ten teams from across the state of Georgia will descend on South Paulding High School on Saturday, December 8th for the inaugural SportalShowcase.  Join us in the gym or watch online at www.SportalTV.live

12:00PM: Mundy’s Mill vs. Franklin County

Mundy’s Mill enters the season with momentum behind 6-foot-5 Rayquan Brown and 6-foot-7 Jordan Black. The dynamic duo along with 6-foot-5 center DeMarcus Fannin power a Tiger team that loves to play fast. Franklin County has patiently taken their lumps in Region 8-AAA and now are prepared to fight for a state playoff berth behind a talented 2020 trio. 6-foot combo guard Micah Roebuck was an All-Region selection and Coach Jason Shaver’s top scoring option. Titlan Wells and Titus Brown round out a solid core that plays together year round.

2:00PM: Woodville-Tompkins vs. Chattooga

Woodville-Tompkins reached new heights in Year 1 under Coach Lenny Williams, earning an Elite Eight berth in Class A-Public. No longer the best kept secret down on the coast, the Wolverines will get everyone’s best shot now that they move up to Class AA and open the season ranked No. 2. All-State 6-foot-5 senior guard Preston Crisp averaged 17 points per game a year ago and sees running mates 6-foot-6 junior Benard Pelote and Region Player of the Year Charleston Willingham back for one last ride. Chattooga has gone 72-11 over the past three seasons in north Georgia and has proven to be a pest when overlooked. Just two years ago the Indians upset future McDonald’s All-American Reggie Perry and Thomasville and were three points away from securing a Final Four trip. Chattooga, who opened the season ranked No. 9 in Class AA, returns nearly everyone from last year’s 23-4 team that lost in the First Round of the tournament. 5-foot-6 Jundraius “Nuk” Adams is one of the most exciting players in the state. The Indians focus on their defense and fast pace play to make up for their lack of size.

We preview the final three games of the day.

4:00PM: ELCA vs. Grayson

The transfer bug bit Class A-Private Preseason No. 4 Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy hard, but Coach Derrick Mason still has more than enough to rival last year’s 27-4 Final Four team. College of Charleston signee Trevon Reddish is a Preseason First Team All-State pick while Mekhi Cameron and KJ Jones are big wings that can shoot. Inside, Felix Uadiale has blossomed into a double-double threat while 6-foot-7 Jordan Smalls can play multiple positions. Grayson has appeared in back-to-back Class AAAAAAA Final Fours. Highlight maker Deivon Smith moves into the lead guard role full-time while 6-foot-5 Reco Hallmon will be asked to score more. Jevon Tatum led DeKalb County in scoring last year at 18.3 points per game and is one of a handful of transfers that will help make Grayson one of the deepest teams in the state.

6:30PM: Coffee vs. Campbell

Two Elite Eight teams in their respective classifications clash in an evenly matched bout. Coffee opens the season ranked No. 4 in Class AAAAAA after running out of gas against two-time defending state champion Langston Hughes 71-67 in the third round. Coach Pernell Smith has a pair of Preseason All-State Second Team selections in physical 6-foot-2 slasher Jayce Moore who averaged 19.6 points and 11.6 rebounds and 6-foot-7 Georgia Southern signee Mackenzie McFatten. The Trojans bring their south Georgia toughness to Douglasville where the Spartans will be waiting. Campbell lost to eventual state champion Meadowcreek 67-57 to end their season. 5-foot-9 point guard Terrell Burden is lightning quick and one of the best point guards in Georgia. 6-foot-5 Brandon Deravine is a versatile forward and 6-foot-6 Drew Thomas, new to the program, is a long forward that provides great help on the glass and defensively.

8:30PM: Jeff Davis vs. South Paulding

For the first time in school history a swarm of Yellow Jackets from Jeff Davis will be migrating to the Metro Atlanta area. Coming off their first region championship in school history, Jeff Davis must build around 2020 Top 100 recruit 6-foot-6 Ja’Queze Kirby, a two-time All-State selection. The junior is must-see TV and will try to improve upon his average of 19.5 points, 14.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.2 steals and 3.6 blocks. Freshman CJ Parker could crack the rotation as an outside shooter to pair with Kirby. The host Spartans are a battle-tested group led by seniors. Coming out of Region 5-AAAAAA, South Paulding relies on defense to frustrate opponents. Cam Armstrong is Coach Gil Davis’ top option after averaging 17 points per game as a junior. Seniors Shane Gibson, Chandler Travis and ultimate hustle-guy Sha’mi Shields round out the Spartans’ core.

Analysis, GHSA Basketball

Carrollton summer camp notes

Carrollton

South Paulding: 66-53 (W)

Coming off of a 15-11 season with an 8-8 record in Region 7-AAAAA, there is great reason for optimism for a young Carrollton program that loses just two seniors. In their 13-point win over South Paulding, two rising juniors proved to be the best players on the floor.

Marcellious Lockett2020 6-4 SG Marcellious Lockett is a household name in West Georgia for good reason. Lockett should see his name seep deeper into Metro Atlanta and statewide as one of the tougher covers in the junior class. Lockett poured in 24 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. He exploded for 15 points in the second half, part of a stretch of three three-pointers in succession.  Lockett can slash to the basket and even showed a nice baseline spin out of the post.

Melvin Edwards2020 6-6 F Melvin Edwards drips with intrigue at the combo forward position. It was eye-opening seeing his touch from the outside as he nailed three trifectas en route to 19 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 3 blocks. Edwards floats around from the post to the wing, doing most of his damage working his way from the outside. He caught two lobs, throwing one down with authority on the fast break. While I wouldn’t call him an elite rim protector, Edwards did use his bounce to swat away three shots. His ability to play inside-out paired with the versatile scoring of Marcellious Lockett makes the Trojans look like a future playoff team.

South Paulding

Carrollton: 66-53 (L)

2019 6-1 G Sha’mi Shields never seems to disappoint with his energy. While others’ legs were tired, Shields was the energizer bunny, crashing the glass despite his average height and winning 50/50 balls for the Spartans. Shields finished with 12 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 1 block. The offense will never run through Shields and he may not average double-digits his senior season, but instead, he is a willing glue-guy that will do a little bit of everything — not needing to be asked – to make plays that win games.

2019 5-10 PG Shane Gibson performed well in the South Paulding backcourt, serving as one of the Spartans’ most reliable ball handlers against an aggressive trapping Carrollton defense. Gibson calmed down the offense and was able to initiate their sets. The lefty netted a team-high 13 points to go with his 2 assists and 2 steals.

Douglas County

Troup County: 46-44 (W/OT)
Sandy Creek: 61-45 (L)

Graduation and the offseason transfer of Malik Battle has left Douglas County searching for a new go-to guy.

2019 6-5 F Jeremiah Smith was the Tigers’ most consistent player on Thursday, finishing with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist in Game 1 against Troup County before posting 10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block in a loss to Sandy Creek. Smith is a tweener forward that likes to play on the wing more than on the block. He has good physical tools, but he seems more valuable as a power forward that drifts out to the wing on occasion instead of a small forward that rarely goes to the post. Either way, Smith is an athlete that will compete on the glass and provide a strong presence that opponents will have to account for.

2021 6-5 C Omarion Smith is the spitting physical image of his older brother Jeremiah, both with an enviable frame complete with broad shoulders and long arms. The Lithia Springs transfer is one of the best rim protectors in his class, blocking over 6 shots per game last year. He blocked 4 shots total on the day and grabbed 7 rebounds against Sandy Creek. Smith still has work to do on offense. He needs to develop a go-to post move in order to become more than just a shot blocker. He has the length and explosion to elevate over and finish through defenders, he just has to put in the time to be able to do so.

Troup County

Douglas County: 46-44 (L/OT)

With seven varsity players out because of football, the young and physically immature Tigers had no business sticking with Douglas County, but the scrappy bunch fought tooth and nail and gained valuable experience for the future. Troup County was outsized at every single position, but that did not stop them from playing great team defense and clogging the lane whenever Douglas County attempted to beat their man off the dribble.

2019 5-10 PG Quevo McFarland provided veteran leadership and quick ball handling. The lefty finished with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. His speed kept Douglas County off balance and attacked in the right spots.

2019 5-11 PG Brandon Smith didn’t score much, but he controlled the tempo when he had the ball. Smith had the game-tying assist at the end of regulation after racing the ball up the floor. Smith has a sturdy build and uses his physicality well. He had 2 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals against Douglas County.

2020 6-2 SG Gabriel Cofield has to work on his handle and get stronger, but he flashed in a big way for Troup County, netting a game-high 14 points including drilling back-to-back threes to keep the Tigers in the game. Cofield has a confident jumper that could make an impact in spurts on the varsity level. As he grows into his body and gets more reps with the big boys, Cofield could develop into a nice high school player.

Sandy Creek

Douglas County: 61-45 (W)

Julian Alexander2019 6-4 SG Julian Alexander looks primed for a breakout senior season similar to that of Jarred Godfrey. Alexander was smooth as silk against Douglas County, getting to the rim with finger rolls while also finding the time to drop in four three-pointers. He collected 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Alexander looks like the No. 2 option behind TJ Bickerstaff heading into the 2019 season. Sandy Creek will have plenty of youngsters play big minutes this upcoming year, but the veteran backcourt of Alexander and Bickerstaff will undoubtedly be the straws that stir the drink.

Game Stories, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

No. 1 South Paulding grinds out perfect region record at No. 9 Alexander

No. 1 South Paulding 58, No. 9 Alexander 46

Perfection was on the line as No. 1 South Paulding (24-1, 16-0) traveled to No. 9 Alexander (17-7, 11-5) with a chance at polishing off a perfect record in Region 5-AAAAAA. It would not come easy as a sea of black packed Alexander’s gym, ready to see their Cougars attempt to avenge a 52-50 road loss just six days earlier.

The players and fans were more than familiar with each other but also were the coaches. South Paulding head coach Gil Davis and Alexander head coach Jason Slate both come from the Tim Criswell coaching tree at Carrollton and Davis became an understudy for Slate while the two were at Lithia Springs.

With familiarity and two talented teams, breads fierce competition.

Alexander jumped up to a 12-5 lead keyed by big man Damion Howell inside and Grant Howard on the perimeter.

South Paulding opened up taking some uncharacteristically bad shots that the Cougars capitalized on. Howell gobbled up rebounds and established himself early around the basket with six of his eight points in the game in the first six minutes.

After Davis’ timeout, the Spartans began to settle in and phase out the loud home crowd while pulling from their own rambunctious student section which lit up half court as they whited-out the section. Georgia State-signee Kane Williams got his first bucket of the game with just over two minutes left in the first quarter.

Sophomore Chandler Travis came off the bench and provided a spark, drilling a three and connecting on a late And-1 to close Alexander’s lead to 19-16 heading into the second quarter.

South Paulding captured its first lead of the game at the 5:53 mark on a Williams three. But a monster dunk from Howell and foul trouble for Ja’Cori Wilson saw the Cougars regain a 27-23 edge at the 2:18 mark with Wilson heading to the bench with his third foul.

DJ Jackson came away with a steal and was fouled hard going to the hoop with 3 seconds left on the clock and split a pair of free throws to send the game into the half with South Paulding trailing 29-27.

In the third quarter, Williams quickly tied the game at 29.

Wilson added a turnaround and then Jackson hit a three, but Wilson picked up his fourth foul with 2:51 remaining in the third quarter with the Spartans up 34-31 and had to return to the bench.

South Paulding slowly started to impose its will but the Cougars wouldn’t fade. Sophomore Cameron Armstrong flew in for a tip-in to cut the lead to 36-33, but on the other end Williams bullied his way to the basket for his seventh point of the quarter and completed the And-1. Drew Shepherd proceeded to drain a three with under a minute left and the score stayed 42-35 at the end of three, South Paulding’s largest lead of the game.

At the 6:03 mark with the Spartans continuing to pull away, Chris Lunsford found Armstrong for a three to keep it a two possession game at 45-39. The Cougars added a free throw to make it 45-40, but that would be as close as they would get. Over the final 4:40, the Spartans put the game away with a 13-6 run.

Williams slid his way for another And-1 to go ahead 50-40.

The Cougars made their final push and trimmed the lead back to 50-44 with 2:15 remaining but the Spartans iced it from the line going 6-of-8 in the fourth quarter.

My Take

Hands down it was the best atmosphere I have been in all season long and as far as both student sections bringing it, probably the best fan participation in my two years covering the GHSA. Alexander rode the home crowd early and South Paulding came out firing some quick and bad shots as the Cougars’ press sped them up. I would have loved to see Damion Howell get more post touches. The inside-outside game of him and Grant Howard worked perfectly in the first half but after Howell’s powerful slam in the second quarter, he never scored again and didn’t get many opportunities to. Howard came out of the gates hot with seven first quarter points and 10 points in the first half, but he managed just four points in the second half as the Spartans clamped down. Cameron Armstrong stepped up in the absence of third leading scorer Rod Rapley (11.9 ppg). The sophomore hit two rainbow threes. Rapley’s athleticism and scoring was missed down the stretch when the Cougars started to run out of gas. Zeek Copeland was quiet with three points but Chris Lunsford added some energy with seven points off the bench.

It’s never going to be overly pretty, but South Paulding is the No. 1 ranked team in the state for a reason. They play with a chip on their shoulder, Drew Shepherd their emotional leader. He and DJ Jackson both pitched in eight points apiece which is all you need when Kane Williams and Ja’Cori Wilson are rolling. After a 2-point first quarter, Williams turned it on, attacking the basket. He had 14 of his game-high 21 points in the second half. Wilson was hampered with foul trouble but when he was in the game he produced. He scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds in front of Longwood. The first quarter MVP for South Paulding was hands down Chandler Travis. With Tank Withers and Parker Berry unavailable in the backcourt along with Jordan Burge in the low post, Travis stepped in and breathed life into the Spartans when they were struggling in the first quarter. He finished with six points, all in the opening period.

Top Performers

South Paulding
Kane Williams – 21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block
Ja’Cori Wilson – 15 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal
DJ Jackson – 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Drew Shepherd – 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Chandler Travis – 6 points, 2 rebounds

Alexander
Grant Howard – 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Damion Howell – 8 points, 12 rebounds
Cameron Armstrong – 8 points, 2 rebounds
Chris Lunsford – 7 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal

Game Stories, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

SEBA Atlanta Hoop Festival recap

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SEBA held its 9th annual Atlanta Hoop Festival at Pope High School. The event, run by William LoPresti, featured five games. I was in the building to check out the first three games of the day. Here are some notes from the action.

Game 1: Duluth 89, Sprayberry 68

 

Junior guard Adam Flagler set a SEBA record, pouring in 43 points. The smooth shooting guard drained 9 threes and didn’t start missing until he took some heat checks late in the game. Flagler has played great this year under Coach Cabral Huff and has definitely put his name on the radar of college coaches. Daylan “DJ” Smith and Jalen Hodges were second and third in command for the Wildcats. Hodges posted 13 points and 7 rebounds as a springy unsigned forward that goes about 6-foot-5. Smith, a junior guard, netted 14. Duluth was without 6-foot-10 sophomore Alex Powell.

Sprayberry saw Eddie Figueroa drop in 26 points before injuring his ankle late in the fourth quarter. The unsigned senior showed nice ball handling and a competitiveness to keep his team in the game for three quarters before Duluth finally ran away with it, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 25-15 in the fourth. Khadim Samb added 8 points and 9 rebounds. Andrew Giles methodically worked his way around the bucket for 10 points.

Top Performers

Adam Flagler poured in a SEBA record 43 points

 

Duluth
Adam Flagler – 43 points (9 threes), 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Jalen Hodges – 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 block
DJ Smith – 14 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal

Sprayberry
Eddie Figueroa – 26 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 4 steals
Khadim Samb – 8 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
Andrew Giles – 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block

 

Game 2: Hillgrove 52, No. 4 St. Pius 39

 

St. Pius was held to two points in the second quarter as they saw Hillgrove race ahead to a 31-15 halftime lead. Heavy legs from two wars this week along with a Demeirre Black onslaught was too much to recover from. Black, a 6-foot senior guard, popped off from his first touch. Black was tight off the dribble, getting to the left wing and pulling up for three straight jumpers to open the game. He scored 11 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in the first quarter alone. Black plays bigger than his size and uses his quick leaping to crash the glass. He finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds and 4 steals as Coach Ed Morris’ go-to guy. Trey Stevens provided offense off the bench with 10 points.

The Golden Lions couldn’t hit a shot all game until the fourth quarter when they made a late run, but could never close to within single digits. They hit four threes in the final period but again, it was Black stemming the tide with a hoop. Carson Seramur led St. Pius with 8 points, but they all came in the first quarter. Zach Ranson got off to a slow start, but he battled hard on the glass and finished with 11 rebounds.

Top Performers

Demeirre Black played bigger than his 6-foot frame, dropping 25 points & 14 rebounds

Hillgrove
Demeirre Black – 25 points, 14 rebounds, 4 steals
Trey Stevens – 10 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 1 block

St. Pius
Carson Seramur – 8 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 1 block
Zach Ranson – 4 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist
Niko Broadway – 5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal

 

Game 3: No. 4 North Cobb Christian 51, No. 3 South Paulding 49

 

A true stunner as South Paulding saw a 40-27 lead heading into the fourth quarter slip away. The Spartans out-physicaled and out-toughed the Eagles for the majority of the game, but Demiere Brown was a one-man wrecking crew. South Paulding held a 25-16 lead at the half after DJ Jackson buried a three at the buzzer.  Jackson played great for Coach Gil Davis as the floor general picked up the slack scoring 15 points while Ja’Cori Wilson played sporadic minutes with a stomach bug before fouling out with 5 points with South Paulding nursing a 44-34 lead with 5:49 to play.

Upon his departure, North Cobb Christian closed on a 17-5 run to steal a victory away from the Spartans, riding Brown. The powerful 6-foot-6 senior wing poured in 31 points and 14 rebounds, pounding away at South Paulding’s smaller guards. Brown has to find a home at the D-1 level. That strength and diversity of ways to score the ball is something programs across the country must covet. He didn’t settle for too many threes and buttered his bread around the basket today.

South Paulding admittedly took the air out of the ball too soon while dealing with foul trouble and a lack of size. It wasn’t until the 4:57 mark when Hunter Norman tossed an alley-oop to Mo Merritt to make it 44-38 that I actually felt that North Cobb Christian had a chance. The Eagles’ fan base went rabid as all the momentum officially swung into their corner. The Spartans still could have put the game away, but Georgia State-signee Kane Williams couldn’t find his touch from the foul line. He went 5-of-10 in the fourth quarter and 7-of-14 for the game. Aside from his free throw woes, Williams was able to affect the game from the floor. He finished with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals while getting others involved.

North Cobb Christian got a huge lift down the stretch from Norman, Nate Perrin and Will Crumly. Perrin didn’t play much, but he came off the bench and rattled in a three to make it 47-43 with 3:14 remaining. I warned that Crumly was still dangerous even though he was ice cold for three quarters from deep. Crumly blocked a Williams shot inside and a minute later he drilled a three to bring the score to 49-48 with 1:09 to play. Crumly put the ball on the floor and got to the line and split a pair of free throws to knot the game at 49 with 1:00.

With South Paulding holding for one shot, Parker Berry lost his dribble in front of Norman who pounced on the floor to give the Eagles the ball with 24.9 left.

North Cobb Christian held for one shot and they found Brown on a duck-in in the middle of the lane. He caught it and hit a lefty hook with 1.8 seconds left.

Originally, they let the clock run off. North Cobb Christian stormed the court and mobbed Brown in a dogpile, but after reviewing, the officials put the correct 1.8 seconds left on the clock. The referees had the opportunity to call a technical with the Eagles team running on the floor, but due to the circumstances they let it go.

South Paulding had one last look when freshman Knowledge Ruben heaved from half court, but his shot bounced off the rim leaving the Spartans shell-shocked and the Eagles jubilant.

 

Top Performers

Demiere Brown is a defense’s nightmare. He had 31 points & 14 rebounds.

North Cobb Christian
Demiere Brown – 31 points, 14 rebounds, 1 steal
Mo Merritt – 5 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block
Will Crumly – 6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks
Chase Savage – 6 points, 1 rebound

South Paulding
Kane Williams – 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals
DJ Jackson – 15 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 3 steals
Drew Shepherd – 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
Ja’Cori Wilson – 5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block