For an extended time in the second quarter, it looked like the end of the line for No. 3-ranked Decatur. The Bulldogs were being overwhelmed by a Kendrick defense that was bent on destruction and they had two starters, including their best player, on the bench with three personal fouls.
No. 7-ranked Kendrick’s aggressive, pressing defense had Decatur flummoxed and flustered. But that’s when the Bulldogs reached deep, survived the assault and went on to a 64-49 win in the Class AAA quarterfinals.
Decatur (29-2) advances to play No. 2 Laney at 3 p.m. Saturday in the state semifinals at Columbus State. Laney defeated previously unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Dawson County 70-64.
“I knew if we could keep it close and weather the storm we could be OK,” said Decatur coach Sarah Coleman. “If we kept in that four- or five-point range I thought we had a chance.”
The star of the night was center Janay Williams, who had 23 points and 20 rebounds, and seemed to come up with every big shot when it was most needed.
Decatur jumped out to a quick lead thanks to a 10-o run that put the Bulldogs ahead 10-2. But Kendrick began to produce points by using its physical, pressing defense, which caused Decatur to play at an uncomfortable speed.
After Decatur’s Kayla Thomas gave the Bulldogs an 18-12 lead late in the first quarter before Kendrick shifted its defense into attack mode. The Cherokees scored 11 straight points, which saw them tie the game at 18-18 on a basket by 32 and increase the lead to 23-18.
Decatur played much of the first half without star point guard Jayla Morrow, who picked up her third foul with 7:25 left in the half, and Taylor Jones, who was whistled for her third foul with 6:51 left. Somehow the Bulldogs were able to regain their composure and adjust to the pace of the game in time to rally at the end of the half.
The Bulldogs tied the game and took the lead on back-to-back possessions when Janay Williams grabbed a missed free throw and scored on the stickback. Decatur concluded the half with a 10-0 spurt that gave the Bulldogs a 28-23 lead at intermission.
“Those were big plays,” Coleman said. “Those are the plays you need to win a state championship.”
Kendrick charged out in the third quarter to cut the lead to 28-27, but the Cherokees could not re-take the lead. Decatur responded with 10 straight points and Kendrick was constantly frustrated by the Bulldogs' matchup zone defense and never got closer than six points.
“We knew everything (Decatur) was going to do,” Kendrick coach Sterling Hicks said. “We came in with a game play we thought would work and we just didn’t get it done.”
Kendrick (27-3), the defending Class AA champions, was led by Destiny Murph with 11 points and Brittany Thompson with 10.
Decatur also got 14 points from Taylor Jones and 10 from Kayla Thomas and was instrumental in keeping the team together while Morrow was on the bench with foul trouble.
“We’re very disappointed,” Hicks said. “But the team that wanted it the most tonight won.”
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