Class AAAAAA Girls
Second Round
R4 #1 McEachern 87, R8 #2 Archer 49
Finding offensive production against an Archer team that allowed just 37.5 points per game this season was going to be the biggest challenge for two-time defending Class AAAAAA state champion McEachern. After building a 24-10 lead at the end the opening quarter, however, McEachern had found the necessary ingredients to control the pace of the game and advance to the quarterfinals with a massive 28-point victory.
Channel Wilson was a key to spreading the floor in McEachern head coach Phyllis Arthur’s aggressive offense as she connected on five three-pointers and netted a team-high 27 points. Wilson also added six assists, six rebounds and five steals. Timely shooting and a fast tempo fueled by the speed and ball movement of point guard Jada Lewis opened up the lanes and took Archer’s size out of the game. Lewis scored 22 points and dished out an impressive 15 assists.
Que Morrison was one of two McEachern starters that sat the entire second quarter after picking up her third foul in the opening frame, but the Indians still managed to build on the 14-point first quarter lead and outscored Archer 16-11 in the period to cruise to a 41-21 halftime advantage.
Foul trouble was the only category that the Indians allowed Archer to gain an edge, but the Tigers were unable to connect from the foul line. McEachern shot an efficient 9-of-10 from the line, while Archer made just 10 of its 24 trips to the charity stripe.
Despite sitting the entire second quarter, Morrison stuffed the stat sheet with her 12 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals.
When the girls Class AAAAAA brackets were set, McEachern knew it was dealt a difficult draw as Westlake, Archer and Norcross occupied its quarter of the bracket. Norcross and McEachern have split the last six state titles in Georgia’s highest classification, but Westlake sent the Blue Devils out of the playoffs with a 39-38 second round victory Friday night. Now, upset-minded Westlake and McEachern will square off in the quarterfinals this Saturday at 6:30 PM at the University of West Georgia.
After not losing to a Georgia opponent all season, Archer dropped a pair to Peach State opponents in its last three games. The first defeat came in the Tigers’ 46-43 loss to Parkview in the Region 8 championship on Feb. 13. That resulted in the No. 2 seed Archer wore into tournament that ultimately pinned them against the explosive Indians.
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