By Seth Ellerbee/Score Atlanta
In a talent-packed Class AAAA semifinal showdown between Liberty County and Lithonia, Liberty County’s Davion Mitchell and Richard LaCounte were nearly unguardable.
Mitchell, who has signed to play basketball at Auburn, scored 33 points and LaCounte, who has signed to play football at Georgia, scored 19 to lead Liberty past Lithonia 81-68 and into the Class AAAA boys championship game for the first time in school history.
The two long-time friends controlled the game from start to finish. Liberty County took a 23-17 lead after one quarter and pushed it to 39-27 at halftime. Lithonia came out with a trapping press to start the second half, but the Panthers were not bothered and pushed the lead to 57-44 after three quarters.
The keys to the second half for Liberty County? “Finish,” asserted LaCounte, as he sat on the press table waiting for the second half to begin.
Afterwards, LaCounte summarized the historic victory. “I feel we have a great team.” LaCounte added. “We have everything we need. We have the pieces to the puzzle. All we need to do is keep on going forward and have a great week of practice. Thursday we will be warming up in Macon, first time in school history. This will be something remarkable.”
Will Richardson added 10 points for the Panthers. “It makes the game easy when our whole team is scoring,” said Mitchell.
Lithonia was led by Tyheem Freeman with 24 points, Jacara Cross who scored 16 and Rodney Chatman who added 12.
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