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DEL.ICIO.USTake 10: Best title game performances
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When state championships are on the line and history hangs in the balance, real competitors step up. Some have almost single-handedly willed their teams to championships; others have overcome adversity in doing so. Others still have won with blue-collar workman teams, devoid of superstars. With the postseason underway, and the Class AAAAA and AAAA championships at the Gwinnett Arena and AAA-A title games at the Macon Centreplex March 7-10, Take Ten looks back at some of history’s biggest championship performances.
10: Dunwoody boys, 2006 — An’Juan Wilderness’ 27 points, including 11 in the first four minutes, helped Dunwoody ruin top-ranked Westlake’s bid for a perfect season and repeat as AAA champion, 79-72. Zac Swansey chipped in 18 points for the Wildcats, who led 23-10 after a quarter and never looked back.
9: Tracey Tipton, 2006 — In just her first season as successor to the legendary Angie Hembree, the coach led Collins Hill’s girls to their second consecutive and fourth AAAAA championship in six years, against county rival South Gwinnett, 65-55. Miss Georgia basketball Maya Moore scored 32 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for the Eagles, who hadn’t lost to a Georgia opponent since 2004.
8: Darrin Hancock, Griffin, 1988 — He capped a four-game tournament run that included 107 points, 46 rebounds, 15 slam dunks and six blocked shots as the Bears beat Westover 70-63 for the AAAA championship. The 6-foot-6 sophomore not only was named the Journal-Constitution’s player of the year that season, but also was selected Mr. Georgia Basketball by the Atlanta Tipoff Club and was honored at the annual Naismith Banquet at the World Congress Center.
7: Cindy Brogdon, Greater Atlanta Christian, 1975 — The future Olympian and University of Tennessee star scored 39 points in the Spartans’ 55-44 Division B championship win over Clinch County. An excellent shooter, Brogdon missed a free throw in the closing seconds that would have given her 40. The point total was even more remarkable, considering it accounted for nearly three-quarters of the Spartans’ championship total. Brogdon led the Spartans to four finals, winning three.
6: William Witherspoon, Berkmar, 2000 — His 12 points weren’t all that many, but combined with eight rebounds and 12 assists, the senior guard jump started a 77-60 victory over Warner Robins and made the Patriots the first Gwinnett County team to win the then-largest classification of AAAA. Witherspoon’s performance punctuated the Patriots’ unbeaten run since Christmas and capped their 30-2 season, whose only losses were to nationally ranked teams.
5: Holy Innocents’ girls, 1999 — The Golden Bears didn’t just win their first title by demolishing highly regarded Buford 71-46, they did so without coach Buster Brown, who was serving a mandatory suspension for getting ejected from the semifinal. Even more remarkably, the Bears overcame a life tragedy: Bradley Evans, the brother of freshman Missy Evans and a close friend of many players, had died the day before the state tournament began.
4: Shea Carrington, Northeast Macon, 2002 — The 6-foot center’s game-high 21 points in the 2002 final, including four baskets in the third quarter, helped the Raiders not only erase a 15-point second-half deficit, but wind up winning 61-52 at the Macon Centreplex. The victory made up for the previous year’s loss in the final to Gainesville and interrupted the Red Elephants’ run of three titles.
3: James Forrest, Southside, 1991 — Though he scored 23 in a loss to Westover in the AAA title game, his 55 in a semifinal win over Dougherty two nights earlier had fans still roused. The year before, he netted 20 points in Southside’s championship victory over Columbia, capping a four-game tournament of 116 points.
2: Hart County girls, 1994 — The Bulldogs rallied from a nine-point deficit, overcame the first-quarter ejection of their leading scorer, and escaped a close call at the foul line with one second remaining to survive Dougherty 53-51 for their sixth consecutive championship and 104th consecutive victory against Georgia opponents.
1: Tramaine Allen, Wheeler, 2002 — He made just two shots in the final against Lakeside, but served notice the Wildcats deserved their first title since 1994, sinking a shot beyond half-court near the end of the first quarter. The long-range bomb sparked the Wildcats crowd and ignited their 69-55 victory.
Go on. Take Ten. What’s the best title game performance you can remember? And who do you expect to step up in this year’s girls and boys state tourneys?
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Comments
By Exodus
March 7, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
Darryl LaBarrie 1996 Tucker over Westover. Scored 25 points, wonderful defense against Westover’s Postell, and led the team on and off of the floor. Shut down every player he guarded in the entire tournament while leading his team to the title.
By Exodus
March 7, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this
1997 Stone Mountain Lady Pirates. 32-0 with a team of true team players. No superstars and no D-1 players. Just pure hard fundamental basketball.
By big Wee
March 7, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this
The best game finish ever was the 1995 state championship wheeler vs Dunwoody. With one minute left in the game Shareef-Abdur-Raheem tried to bring the ball up the floor at the albany Civic Center.Ray Harrison( Georgia ) stripped the ball and Rahemm had to foul. It was 56 seconds left in the game and Dunwoody went into a stll game. With 10 seconds left Atiba Prater ( Vanderbilt ) Cut down the middle of the lane and passed to E.J. Jacobs who when to the hoop and challenged Raheem. The ball was tipped by Raheem and went into the basket with 2.1 seconds remaining. Now that a prime time finsish with prime time players!
By RoswellHorn
March 7, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this
Jodie Meeks single-handedly put Norcross on his back in last year’s final four during wins over Redan and Beach. He had 30+ in both games.
By Heath
March 7, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this
Why in the world isn’t Louis Williams’ name in this mix? He is the greatest basketball player in Georgia high school history and he single-handedly beat Tift Co. by scoring at will in the 2004 title game. This makes me sick and it also is another reason why I will never read the AJC ever again.
By Martha Farley
March 7, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this
The Lady War Eagles was 15 or more points down at halftime. Put on a huge SECOND half rally and won the 1982 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP for Coach John Carrick.
By Tucker Alum
March 7, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this
Tucker High School’s 1996 was the best high school team that I ever saw. The backcourt combo of Darryl LaBarrie (Georgia Tech) and Shernard Long(Georgetown/Georgia State) was the best guard combination that the state has ever seen. LaBarrie averaged 28 points in his 3 year career in the State Tournament and rarely gets any credit and was as clutch as any player that I’ve ever seen.
By james
March 7, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this
I could tell you 3 players that you forgot to add to the list. The players are 1.Pete Driver 2.Brent Petway 3. Jay Brown from Griffin High School when Griffin won the State Championship in 2003.
By al stewart
March 7, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this
in 2000 a 5’2” girl name Sharika Tarpkins scored 50 points in a semi final down in macon when Putnam County beat Mary Parson. people were still talking about that game a year later.
By Marietta
March 7, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this
Ezra Williams 99 4A state champs. Game was close but Ezra was a beast.
By Big Man
March 7, 2007 3:44 PM | Link to this
Exodus,
that Stone Mountain girls team had the fastest guards I ever saw.
Big Wee,
That Wheeler Dunwoody game was a great game. Dunwoody was very talented.
Heath,
As much as I love Louis Williams’ game he was not the best player ever in GA. He is one of the best, but I can name a few that were better.
By Shamrock Hoops
March 7, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this
No, no, no! I am shocked!
I just knew I would see the 1986 AAAA All-Cobb title game when Wills knocked off Sprayberry and the comeback was completed by point guard Dale McCullough (hey, Michael Alpert, go ask Mark Bradley about McCulllough, he’d agree with me that McCullough’s performance is top-ten!)
This was the Wills squad led by Brian Oliver, later part of Georgia Tech’s “Lethal Weapon Three.”
Sprayberry led by 10 with about 3-plus minutes to go in the 4th quarter and Oliver fouled out soon after. It looked like it was all over for Wills but McCullough literally took over the game and “willed” his team to the title, hitting the game winning shot and dominating the last minute and a half of play. No player stood taller than the generously listed 5’ 10” McCullough that night at Tech.
While I am at it, as impressive as James Forrest’s 55 in Albany is, how about the 1984 AAA Girls Final when Traci Waites knocked down 39 of her team’s 50 points as the Lady Bulldogs rallied from a horrible first half shooting performance and a double-digit deficit to rally and knock off unbeaten Dodge County, again at Georgia Tech. I have never seen so much red in Alexander Memorial Coliseum and it was a 4:00 p.m. game! Dodge led all day, then Rockdale (Waites, of course) scored to take the lead and Dodge was holding the ball for the final shot and called a timeout they did not have. That 1984 championship night ended hours later with the Chris Morris’ led Douglass Astros knocking off LaGrange in OT.
I miss the finals being held at Tech.
By Greg
March 7, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this
Go back to the ’80s and a young lady by the name of Tracie Waites. I am sure there are Rockdale County fans who can remember the details. She put on the most incredible show I have ever seen in a state championship game. She literally put the team on her back and led them from 20 down at halftime to beat Dodge County for the Class AAA title. She is not the best hs girls player I have ever seen in Georgia but her performance that night is the best I have seen in a title game.
By Beach Ball
March 7, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this
What about Audosha Kelley from Beach High. She led the Bulldogs to their first ever state title in 2000 over 29-0 Baldwin and Tennessee star Tasha Butts (Baldwin was ranked #25 in USA Today as well). Her dribble cross-over, reverse lay-up sealed the game with less than a minute to play. She also scored 21 and made some clutch free throws down the stretch.
By stud
March 7, 2007 4:34 PM | Link to this
how bout sequoyah? best basketball i have ever seen!
By Josh
March 7, 2007 4:51 PM | Link to this
Louis Williams is currently the all time leader in points if I’m not mistaken right? Just curious… you know as to why maybe his 51 points in one game, and then 50 the next night wasn’t included in there… just wondering, or maybe that he was on one of the only teams to be Oak Hill academy. McDonald’s All-American. I’m done now.
By Johnny
March 7, 2007 5:14 PM | Link to this
One of the best team performances had to be Tift Co run back in 1995.After defeating Jason Flyod Lovejoy team by 1 point in Albany,Ga Tift Co went on one of the best runs I seen by a team. They defeated highly regarded Wheeler High at Ga Tech by 20plus points, then defeated Beach High of Savannah by 25 points.That only loss one game to a team from Alaska.
By B-ball fan
March 7, 2007 7:57 PM | Link to this
In 2004 Louis Williams didn’t only score he did it all in that game on both defense & offense.
In 2006 championship game against Marist Kelly Cain with blocks and buckets in the opening quarter along with a great supporting cast made the last 3 quarters moot.
By The Truth
March 7, 2007 8:07 PM | Link to this
Vincent Banks!!!!!!!
By the Truth
March 7, 2007 8:08 PM | Link to this
VINCENT BANKS!!!!!!
By Steve
March 7, 2007 10:41 PM | Link to this
Best all-around team performance in a final in any classification was the 1980-81 Baldwin Braves. This team averaged more than 120 points per game for nearly half the season, and demolished Campbell-Smyrna by 40 in the AAAAA title game at the Macon Coliseum.
Best girls’ performance? Same year, same place, as future Tennessee star Sheila Collins led Madison County to the state championship. The Lady Red Raiders, if memory recalls, had an undefeated season and coasted in the AA title game.
Best girls individual? I have to agree with Greg. Tracie Waites had no equal on the court that year. Of either gender.
By thehillisreal
March 8, 2007 1:39 AM | Link to this
CALVIN BOOKER!!!!QB@ GA TECH
MAYS 2004 down by 6 pt. to bulter with 30 sec left in the game.Mays win by 4, with a clutch turn around no look or spot up three on the baseline while being guarded with man in your face.
By crh
March 8, 2007 8:20 AM | Link to this
Nothing about the Dontonio Wingfield of Westover. He the # 3 ranked team in the country in 1991 OVER James Forrest and won 4 State Championships in a row! In that 2001 Title game, he fouled out James Forrest. He had 35 points and 15 rebounds while Forrest had 23 points and 10 rebounds. Wingfield was the best player in the state that year!
By nastydad
March 8, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this
Marilyn Walker of Central of Talbotton.Marilyn led Central to three state championship.She was a ALL-AMERICAN in highschool and college.
By noneya
March 8, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this
Big Wee, you are on the money with that one. That was the best GHSA championshop game I have ever seen. So many talented players on the court. I will give an ever so slight edge to William Avery and Ricky Moore as the best guard combo I have seen. Labarrie and Long were great though. Anyway William Avery should be on this list. Westside 1995 State Champs. Louis Williams was not a better high school player than Shareef, James Forrest, Darren Hancock, Matt Harpring, Dontonio Wingfield, I could go on. He was great but no where near the greatest.
By Steve
March 8, 2007 7:30 PM | Link to this
crh:
Oh yeah, man, forgot about Wingfield, but in my defense, I was a prisoner of war in southern California at the time. From eveything I’ve ever read and seen about DW, he was absolutely unstoppable. Would’ve loved to have seen him on the court.
By Jodie Meeks 2006
March 8, 2007 10:13 PM | Link to this
Jodie Meeks’ 2006 performance against Beach. Incredible game. About 30 pts, 8 rebounds, and 5 assist if I remember correctly. knocked down about 8 clutch free throws in the last 2 minutes of the game to hold of Beach.
By stud
March 9, 2007 1:35 AM | Link to this
HOW BOUT SEQUOYAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By ejr205
March 9, 2007 4:07 AM | Link to this
‘97 Cedar Grove Saints, led by Dion Glover(Georgia Tech,NBA) & Derrick Knox(Marshall, Winthrop) They also won the Championship by 40!
By JayBird
March 9, 2007 8:25 AM | Link to this
The Morrow girls teams of the late 80’s-early 90’s were incredible. “Tree” Drake and Stephanie Lawrence were amazing.
By t morris
March 9, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
What about that Tinney guy who led Columbia High School to it’s first Title in the Schools History (AAAA)?
Let’s keep it real y’all.
By Fred
March 9, 2007 8:17 PM | Link to this
Does any one remember Matt Harpring at Marist? He single-handedly dominated Lithonia. He was truly unstoppable.
Dontonio Wingfield was good but not great. I saw the high flying act of Darrin Hancock. Unreal. Reginald Tinch at Westover wasn’t bad with but the buzz saw called Griffin dominated from the beginning.
Keisha Brown at Woodward Academy was awesome in her finals appearance. Audra Smith at Baldwin County in 86-88 was great.
By Buster
March 10, 2007 3:01 AM | Link to this
By Dan
March 10, 2007 3:08 AM | Link to this
I was lucky enough to see, in person, the 1967 AAA State title game between Beach and South Fulton. Beach was simply the very best I ever saw that night. They were so fun to watch. Roger Brown and Andrew Knowles were magical on the court. I dopn’t think anyone has ever touched them on that particular night.
By Buster
March 10, 2007 3:13 AM | Link to this
By Buster
March 10, 2007 3:27 AM | Link to this
By TVtime
March 10, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
all you had to do was watch the AAAAA finals last night to see two incredible title game performances.
Maya Moore and Gani Lawal
Title game MVP’s and high school sweethearts.
By devil lover
March 11, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this
Gani Lawal 2007 state championship game.
After being stopped in the semifinal game by Tift Co. which hasn’t happened offen, Gani scored 31 pts of Norcross’ 59 pts and 12 rebounds and six block shots.
What a championship and all american.
By me
March 12, 2007 8:18 PM | Link to this
tift co. and norcross are GARBAGE!!
By Martha Farley
March 13, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this
Hey Al Stewart, That was in 1999 when Sherika Tarpkins scored those 50 pts against Mary Person. What we are still talking about in Putnam Co. is how the girl from Fannin Co. scored 40 in the FINALS and won the State Championship in ‘99 AFTER we had won in 1998. it should have been back to back for us THATS what we are still talking about.