Senior Te’a Cooper scored 21 points and No. 1-ranked McEachern overpowered South Forsyth 64-27 in the Class AAAAAA semifinals at Georgia Tech.
The Indians, who won the state championship in 2012, also got 16 points from Caliya Robinson and 12 from Taylor Gordon. It was the 24th straight win for McEachern, the Region 4 champion.
The Indians, who had scored 80 or more in five of their last six games, outscored South Forsyth 23-5 in the first quarter. The Indians led the third quarter 58-26, which shortened the final period to six minutes, and went long stretches running the clock. McEachern subbed for all its starters with 2:14 remaining.
“We knew we had to get out there early,” McEachern coach Phyllis Arthur said. “We didn’t want to start slow.”
Three of McEachern’s players were on the 2012 championship team. Expectations were high for the Indians, who played a national schedule. Their only two losses came against out-of-state opponents.
“But that was before we jelled,” Arthur said. “We were still bumping our heads against each other then.”
No. 9-ranked South Forsyth (25-8) was led by sophomore Sarah Myers with 12 points. South Forsyth, with only one senior, was one of the youngest teams in the state semifinals.
McEachern (27-2) will meet Archer for the championship on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Macon Coliseum.
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