Class AAAAA Semifinals from Columbus State University

Fayette County once again survived life on the edge, and is headed to the Class AAAAA finals in Macon.

The Tigers blew a 14-point lead with five minutes remaining and fell behind by as much as four with less than two minutes left. But Ricky Knight’s three with :03 seconds left forced overtime where the Tigers outscored Lithonia 11-4, and took a 69-62 win.

JeKobe Coleman’s back-to-back treys gave the Tigers a 50-38 lead with a little less than five minutes left in the contest. But the Bulldogs stormed back, and went on a 22-4 run to take a 58-54 lead with 1:20 left in regulation. The spurt was led by juniors Eric Graines and Zephaniah Corker, who finished with 18 and 12  points, respectively. Senior Justin Myles added 16 points.

Fayette County coach Andre Flynn said his team has done this sort of thing before during the season, but not in a game of this magnitude.

“We get a lead and then we miss a couple of easy shots we should make and we turn the ball over uncharacteristically,” Flynn said. “We just lose our focus. But we keep fighting and we execute down the stretch.”

That’s exactly what happened on Knight’s game-tying three just beyond the right elbow. The play called for him to curl off of a screen and take the shot. The senior knocked down the contested shot to send the game into overtime, tied at 58-58.

“I’ve got the best coaching staff in the world,” Flynn said. “They draw up the plays but the kids still have to execute. That’s something Ricky Knight has been doing all year.”

In overtime, Lithonia looked spent as the Tigers opened the period on a 7-0 run, sparked by a three-pointer by Coleman, who finished with 18 points. Will Richard added 16, while Knight led all scorers with 20.

Buford 59, Southwest DeKalb 50

The key to Buford’s 59-50 win over Southwest DeKalb in the first boys Class AAAAA semifinal, actually occurred nearly two months ago, according to Wolves’ head coach Eddie Martin.

That’s when Buford, ranked No. 1 and riding high with a record of 15-1, got shocked at home, 59-54, by a Loganville team that eventually finished with a losing record in the region.

“They showed us that you can’t just walk out there, roll the ball out and win the game,” Martin said. “Ever since then, we have really gotten refocused.”

The result has been a 13-game winning streak and a trip to the finals, Friday in Macon. Buford jumped out to an early 14-6 lead after point guard Donell Nixon drilled the second of his six three-pointers in the game, to close out the first quarter. The Wolves eventually built a 48-33 lead early in the fourth quarter, after a put-back layup by Caleb Williams. But Southwest DeKalb capped a 9-2 run with back-to-back buckets by KD Johnson and Jarrett Walton to pull to within 50-42 with a little less than three minutes remaining.

But Eric Coleman knocked down a three on Buford’s next possession – assist by Nixon – and the senior-laden Wolves never looked back.

“We knew they were going to make a run at some point,” Martin said. “A team that talented and that well coached is going to make a run. The question is, are you going to roll over or are you going to regain your poise. We did that, and I’m really proud of how we played tonight.

Nixon, who at one point was five-for-five from beyond the arc, finished with 20 points to lead Buford. Marcus Watson and Bobby Miller added 14 and 10, respectively for the Wolves. Johnson led the Panthers with 20, as James Glisson added 12.

GIRLS

Villa Rica 57, Columbia 50

After squandering an early double-digit lead, with an undefeated season and a trip to the state finals on the line, and with Columbia’s crowd roaring at full throat, Villa Rica senior Deasia Merrill did what she does. She took over.

The Kentucky-signee calmly walked the ball up the floor and knocked down a mid-range jumper with 1:20 left to extend the Wildcats’ lead to 51-48. Merrill then converted on six of eight free throws down the stretch to lift Villa Rica to a 57-50 win, a record of 32-0 and a date with Buford in the Class AAAAA finals, Friday at 6 p.m. in Macon.

Merrill led all scorers with 28 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter to quell a comeback bid by a young, scrappy Columbia squad.

“She’s done that all year for us,” Villa Rica head coach Tammy Norred said. “Her supporting cast does a great job of getting her the ball, as well.” Indeed, juniors Dekyia Cofield and Aliyah Hindsman chipped in with 12 and nine points, respectively.

Columbia countered with three players in double figures, led by the team’s lone senior, Shontrice Austin, who finished with 17 points. Sophomore India Terrell added 12, while junior Daija Carr had 10.

Villa Rica jumped out to a 9-0 lead and led 18-7 at the end of the first quarter. But the Eagles clawed their way back and eventually cut the deficit to 49-48 after Carr knocked down a three with a little over two minutes remaining. But Merrill outscored Columbia 8-2 the rest of the way to set off a wild celebration with the Wildcat cheerleaders and fans, who chanted “We want Buford.”

“I’ll give them 24 hours to celebrate this one,” Norred said. “Then it’s time to get back to work.”

Buford 51, Southwest DeKalb 38

For Buford head coach Gene Durden and his Wolves, an ugly win is just that: a win. Buford relied on its program staple – defense – en route to a 51-38 win in the first Class AAAAA semifinal at Columbus State University.

Neither team shot the ball well as both applied tight defensive pressure. In fact, the teams combined for just 44 points by halftime, with Buford holding a 22-20 lead. The Wolves finally put the game away with a 7-0 run late in the fourth quarter to make the score 48-33 with just :35 seconds left to play.

“I give the kids credit,” Durden said. “We have developed a good system and our kids have bought into it. We’ve had a couple of ugly games and our defense gave us a chance. You’re going to have games like this where you have to grind the whole game, and I’m proud of our kids for doing that today.”

Buford senior Preston Reid led all scorers with 21 points.