All season Columbia coach Phil McCrary has called senior center Darrius Morrow the second-ranked Eagles' aircraft carrier.

Friday at the Gwinnett Arena the 6-foot-9, 250-pounder helped bring home another championship for the DeKalb County school.

Although there were a few turbulent moments when the South Carolina signee got into second-half foul trouble, the Eagles were able to weather the storm for a 69-63 victory against Fayette County.

It was Columbia's second title in three years and the fifth consecutive year that a team from Region 6-AAAA has won a championship.

"He brought us home," Columbia senior Travis Leslie said. "He is a big threat for us. He came in and finished well. This is a great feeling."

Fayette County didn't have a player tall and physical enough to contain Morrow, who finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and a blocked shot. Most of the Tigers' shots came from the perimeter when Morrow was in the game. He sat out near the end of the second quarter and in the third quarter with foul trouble.

Kenny Mitchell scored 17 points for Columbia, and Leslie finished with 15.

"As a senior I wanted to go out on top," Morrow said. "We know how it felt like to lose a championship, and we didn't want that feeling leaving out of here today."

As much as Morrow was a factor in the Eagles' game plan, Leslie and point guard David Forrest played big roles on the defensive end. They combined to guard Fayette County's high-scoring guard Noel Johnson, who finished with only 14 points, 12 in the second half.

The Tigers (23-10) were led by Cuincy Carruthers, who finished with a game-high 25 points with six 3-pointers.

This senior class for the Eagles (30-3) closed out their careers with a 92-6 record and two state titles.

"It was a great ride with this group," an emotional McCrary said. "Only [six] losses in three years, that is a heck of a ride. They really played their hearts out. I wouldn't trade their effort and desire for nothing."