Americus-Sumter 51, Buford 44: Buford, which has won four championships in the past seven years, was held off by Americus-Sumter as the Panthers punched their ticket to the Class AAAA Championship game in Macon with a 51-44 victory.
Americus-Sumter’s A’tyanna Gaulden (FSU signee) picked apart the Lady Wolves defense with a team-high 20 points.
“I’ve known that child (Gaulden) since she was in 8th grade,” said Buford head coach Gene Durden.” She’s a hardworker, she listens, she’s coachable and she basically destroyed our defense tonight. She not only scored for herself, but she put other players in position to score”
After the game Gaulden wiped away tears as she complimented Durden. “I just want to continue what we’re doing, playing good defense and all,” said Gaulden, “but I want to thank the head coach from Buford, he taught me a lot and I appreciate him.”
Gaulden was helped by Jy’Kierra Long and T’imia Swanson, both scoring 11 points. Buford was led in scoring by Tory Ozment and Audrey Weiner, both with 11 points and nine points from Rachel Dobbs.
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