Seminole County 59, Vidalia 56: Jordan Harris scored 22 points and made 7-of-8 free throws in the final three minutes to lift the Indians to the Class AA state title game.
Second-ranked Seminole County (27-3) will face Crawford County on March 6 in Macon.
Harris was unshakeable at the line, making seven straight as Seminole County scrapped to fend off a late rally by Vidalia. But the one free throw he missed left the door open a crack.
Vidalia grabbed the rebound with 3.8 seconds left and hurried up the court. Junior sharpshooter Wil Chambliss got a square look at the basket, but his trey bounced high and away off back rim.
Neither team led by more than eight points in the back-and-forth affair. That lead was established by Seminole County with less than two minutes remaining, but Vidalia quickly chipped away at it.
Anfernee King had 15 points for Seminole County, and Jahmyka Pearson had 12 before fouling out in the third quarter.
Jordan Black led fourth-ranked Vidalia (27-3) with 15 points, while Chambliss and Tahj Jones each added 11.
Holy Innocents' 78, Pelham 70: Friday in Columbus, sophomore point guard Khayla Pointer had 23 points to lead five Lady Bears in double figures and send Holy Innocents' to the Class AA state championship game.
The top-ranked Lady Bears (30-0) will face Region 6-AA rival Wesleyan in the title game March 6 in Macon.
Pointer came up big down the stretch, as did junior post Erika Cassell. Pointer made four of her last five field goal attempts and each of her final five free throws. Cassell, who finished with 19 points, made six of her last seven field goal attempts.
Those efforts were needed to turn back second-ranked Pelham, which was led by Briunna Freeman's 28 points. The Lady Hornets (28-2), went back and forth with Holy Innocents' for the better part of two and half quarters, before the Lady Bears gained some separation.
Holy Innocents' appeared ready to pull away on more than one occasion, but was unable to seal the victory until the final 30 seconds. The Lady Hornets trailed by just three points with 1:15 remaining and had a chance to cut into the lead further, but after a steal, Freeman was called for an offensive foul in the backcourt.
Two Pointer free throws on the other end stretched the lead back to five, and Pelham never got within a single possession the rest of the way.
Destiny Thomas had 16 points for Pelham, while Mahogany Brown added 10.
Sydney Long had 11 for Holy Innocents'. Kaila Hubbard and Shai Blanding each had 10.
Crawford County 71, Swainsboro 58: William Jarrell had 28 points and Marcal Knolton added 23 to lift the Eagles to their first appearance in a state championship game since 1982.
Crawford County (27-3) will face Seminole County in the Class AA state championship game March 6 in Macon.
The Eagles took the lead in the first quarter with a blend of quick transition baskets and a devastating half-court offense fronted by Jarrell and Knolton. They led 18-11 after one, thanks largely to a defense that overplayed passing lanes and turned turnovers into the points.
Swainsboro was more careful with its possessions in the second quarter, and kept the margin within reach, 36-28, at half.
The Tigers cut the lead to four at one point in third, but Crawford County closed the period on a 10-2 run, extending the lead back to 59-47 going into the fourth, thanks to a handful of crucial baskets from Quay Wiggins.
Wiggins finished with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting.
Da’Korey Somerville led Swainsboro (21-10) with 22 points.
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