The high school basketball season will end for Class AAA Thursday when the Beach girls play Greater Atlanta Christian at 6 p.m. and the Pace Academy boys plays Jefferson at 8 p.m. at the Centerplex in Macon.
The Jefferson boys program is the only remaining program searching for its first state championship. Pace Academy's boys won championships in 2016 (AA) and 2017 (AAA). Beach's girls won state championships in 2000 (AAAA) and 2017 (AAA). GAC's girls have the most state championships (8) of the remaining programs, but has not won a championship since 2007 in Class AA.
Here's a look at the state-title matchups:BoysPace Academy: In his second year as head coach of the Knights, Sharman White has led Pace back into the state championship after winning seven titles as the head coach at Miller Grove. White took an assistant coaching position at Georgia State in 2016 before leaving to take over the Pace job two seasons ago. In a decade at Miller Grove, White amassed a 264-47 record, and his impact at Pace has been felt immediately as the Knights try for their third state championship. Pace is led by four-star shooting guard Matthew Cleveland. The 6-foot-6 junior is averaging 22.6 points per game with eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. In the 75-46 semifinal victory against Johnson-Savannah, Cleveland scored a team-high 26 points as the Knights outclassed the Savannah program in all facets of the game after jumping to a 17-7 lead after the first quarter and a 37-20 lead at the half. Junior Cole Middleton, a 6-6 power forward, adds 12 points per game but leads the team in rebounds with 10 per contest – six on the defensive side and four on the offensive side. Middleton scored 18 points in the semifinals. Junior Madison Durr, a 6-5 guard, is averaging 9.2 points and he controls the pace of the game. Durr leads the team with six assists per game. Pace has not been challenged in the tournament, with victories against North Hall 80-37, Beach 61-32, Monroe Area 65-40 and Johnson.
Jefferson: In head coach Kevin Morris' third season at Jefferson, the Dragons are playing for the first state championship in program history after its run continued with a 66-58 victory against Central-Macon in the semifinals. Morris took over after a 2016-17 season after the Dragons finished 4-21 and 1-10 8-AAAA under head coach Bolling DuBose. In Morris' first year, Jefferson improved to 18-11, 7-3 but lost the second round of the playoffs, 53-51 to LaFayette. In the 2018-19 season, Jefferson reclassified from AAAA to AAA and lost to Westminster 53-50 in the first round of the playoffs. This season's run to the championship game included victories against Adairsville, 75-46, Pierce County, 65-57, Monroe, 55-45, and Central-Macon. The Dragons led 14-9 after the first quarter in the semifinals and 28-21 at the half. Jefferson pushed the lead to nine points, but the Chargers responded to pull within two points, 35-33, with 3:20 left in the third quarter. Central tied the game at 42 on a 3-pointer by Harold Thompkins at the end of the third quarter before Jefferson took control. The Dragons pushed the lead to 53-44 with 5:38 and weathered a Central run that cut the lead to four points with one minute left. Senior shooting guard Owen Parker and junior Kam Robinson each scored 16 points to lead Jefferson. Senior power forward Jacob Radaker scored 15 points.
Girls
Beach: Beach is trying for its third state championship after winning a Class AAAA title in 2000 (the state's highest class at the time) and a Class AAA championship in 2017. The battle-tested Bulldogs have a roster with extensive playoff experience. Beach advanced to the semifinals last season before losing to Hart County 62-58. In 2017, Beach lost to Greater Atlanta Christian in the quarterfinals, 55-45. This year, as the No. 2 seed from Region 3 behind top-ranked Johnson-Savannah, the Bulldogs' run through the bracket included victories against Crisp County, 56-36, Cedar Grove, 50-43, Ringgold, 47-31, and North Hall, 52-31. Beach controlled the pace in the semifinals, moving to a 16-5 lead after the first quarter and a 30-10 lead at the half. Junior Kaila Rougier, who is averaging 15 points, scored 14 points against North Hall. Rougier also leads the team in steals and assists (three each). Senior Madison Evans is averaging 12 points per game and scored 13 points in the semifinals. Sophomore Ameyah Dantzler, who averages eight points per game, leads the team in rebounds with eight per game – four defensive and four offensive. Dantzler scored 13 points in the semifinals against North Hall and will factor against GAC.
Greater Atlanta Christian: GAC is trying for its ninth girls state championship and first since 2007. The Spartans won a Class C championship in 1972, Class B titles in 1974 and 1975, Class A titles in 1982 and 1983 and Class AA titles in 2001, 2002 and 2007. GAC entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed from Region 7 and started its playoff run with a 79-31 victory against Stone Mountain in the first round. The Spartans then defeated Monroe, 50-42, and Jefferson, 54-51, before beating Johnson-Savannah, the two-time defending champions, 52-50 in the semifinals. The Spartans star sophomore Kaleigh Addie helped lead GAC back from a 9-point deficit against Johnson. Addie, who averages 21 points, five rebounds and three steals per game, scored 22 points with three steals against the Atomsmashers. Sophomore Jaci Bolden averages 12 points and three rebounds. She scored 13 points in the semifinal game. Senior Ava Irvin averages 10 points per game and scored 14 points with eight rebounds and two steals in the semis. She leads the team with 2.5 assists per contest. Junior Laurren Randolph averages six points, six rebounds and one block per game. Sophomore Molly Pritchard leads the team in rebounds with 11 per game with 7.5 coming on defense.
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