It was billed as a showcase for two of the best high school girls players in Georgia, and the Class AAAA quarterfinal matchup between Marist and Americus-Sumter didn’t disappoint.
Americus-Sumter’s A’tyanna Gaulden, who signed with Florida State, scored 29 points. Marist’s Dominique Oden, who signed with Purdue, scored 26. But it was Gaulden’s 14-point outburst in the third period that gave the Lady Panthers a 44-38 lead against an injury-decimated Marist team and advanced Americus-Sumter to the semifinals with a 63-56 win.
Marist lost 3-point specialist Annabella Farabaugh to an apparent knee injury during a drive to the basket in the first minute of play. Diarra Oden went down with a similar injury early in the third quarter after scoring eight points.
That left Gaulden and Americus with a stronger supporting cast.
“It’s breaking my heart,” Marist coach Kim Hixon said after the game. “Life is unfair sometimes. Annabella has been our 3-point specialist and really allows us to spread the floor. She’s our senior captain and
the heart of this team. … But there are no excuses. We make no excuses.”
Americus-Sumter led by five points at halftime before Gaulden went on her run of drives into the middle of the lane. After Americus pushed the lead to eight, Dominique Oden scored 12 points in the final quarter to give Marist a chance. The Lady Eagles trailed 58-54 with 1:12 remaining. Gaulden added four points in the final minute to end the threat.
“Having A’yanna makes my job a little easier,” said Americus-Sumter coach Sherri Harris, whose team is 28-1.
“ (A’tyanna) is a special player,” said Hixon. “She’s not just a flashy offensive player; she plays great defense and makes all of her teammates better. FSU is lucky to have her.”
Americus-Sumter got 12 points from T’imia Swanson and nine from Kayla Howard. Emma Huffstetler scored eight for Marist, which finished 28-3.
