For so much of this season, they were favored. Feared, even.

Now? Finished.

Greater Atlanta Christian was upset by Coosa 60-56 Wednesday in the second round of the Class AA state tournament, ending the Spartans' bid to repeat as state champions. It is GAC's earliest playoff exit since 2003.

"This isn't the way we wanted to end it," senior forward Mollie Mitchell said. "We thought we were going to go further. I thought we had the talent to do it."

The Spartans (24-5), ranked third in the state, were confident they could make another deep run in the tournament after defeating top-ranked Wesleyan in the Region 6-AA title game. But they couldn't contain Coosa guard Robyn Foster, who had a game-high 28 points along with six steals Wednesday.

Nor could they overcome their own shooting woes. GAC shot just 35 percent from the field and went 1-for-19 from three-point range. Coosa (25-3) shot 58 percent from the floor.

"We had chances," GAC coach Chan Means said. "We had opportunities. We just couldn't make a basket."

That was painfully evident for the Spartans in the closing moments.

Sophomore Briana Jordan made a three-pointer with 1:52 remaining to put GAC ahead by one. But Foster responded with a lay-up with 1:29 left to give Coosa a 57-56 lead.

And the final minute for GAC went as follows: missed free throw, missed three-pointer, missed jumper. Ballgame.

The Spartans were up by as many as seven points in the second quarter. But Coosa closed the half on a 14-2 run and led 38-34 at the break.

"We saw a little bit of nervousness in them once we came back and took the lead," Foster said. "We knew that was our striking point."

When their fourth-quarter rally fell short, GAC players walked off the court in tears. They remained in the locker room for almost a half hour after the game.

"Everybody is real upset," Mitchell said. "We're a really close team, so it's hard."

Jordan and junior Anjelica Wilcox led GAC with 13 points apiece. Coosa will face Paideia Saturday in the quarterfinals.