Valdosta State – No. 1 ranked Treutlen is heading back to the state championship for the second consecutive season after toppling No. 4 Terrell County 68-63. The Vikings jumped out to a 40-30 halftime lead and held a 61-55 lead with 3:06 left to play before celebrating the win. With the victory, Treutlen improves to a perfect 30-0 and is back in the finals after last year's 67-65 heartbreaking loss to Calhoun County.
Girls
Central-Talbotton 63, Calhoun County 44
No. 1 seed Central-Talbotton led 33-32 with 4:50 left in the third quarter before sparking a game-changing 11-4 run that put the Hawks up 44-37. The Hawks closed out the victory to extend their winning streak to 20 games and improved to 28-1 overall. Central-Talbotton is set to make its first state championship appearance since 1986 when the program captured its third-straight state title.
Wheeler County 81, Turner County 66
No. 3 seed Wheeler County took a commanding 23-9 lead over No. 10 seed Turner County after the first quarter. The game marked a rematch of the 2016 semifinals when eventual state champion Turner County defeated Wheeler County 57-44. Turner County trailed 40-22 at the half before a 26-14 edge in the third quarter brought them within six points (54-48) heading into the final frame. Wheeler County responded with a 27-18 edge in the fourth quarter to run away with the 15-point victory and advance to the state championship for the first time in program history.
Boys
Hancock Central 68, Wilcox County 53
Hancock Central exploded to a 52-29 halftime lead over Wilcox County and closed out a dominant 24-point victory by preserving the lead in the second half. This win followed the Bulldogs’ 68-53 victory over the defending state champion Calhoun County Cougars in the quarterfinals. Now, the Bulldogs are positioned one win away from the program’s second state title after winning a Class A championship in 2008.
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