BOYS
Berkmar 72, Pebblebrook 58
Berkmar’s goal all season has been to get back to the Class 7A championship game and Friday night they humbled the No. 1-ranked team that stood in its way.
The No. 2-ranked Patriots finished strong and defeated top-ranked Pebblebrook 72-58 in the state semifinal, giving coach Greg Phillips team a chance to win the school’s first title since coach David Boyd’s club went back-to-back in 2000 and 2001. Berkmar lost to Milton in the 2021 championship game.
“There was only one mission,” said Phillips, whose team has won 17 straight. “And we still have one more game for that.”
Berkmar advances to play the winner of Saturday’s game between Newton and Norcross on March 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Macon Coliseum.
“I definitely think everybody understood what the assignment was,” Berkmar guard Jameel Rideout said. “We did what we wanted to accomplish tonight but the job still isn’t done. Everybody still locked in and we know what we’ve got to do.”
The Patriots (26-5) got 22 points from Rideout, 18 from Ole Miss signee Malique Ewin and 13 from Hill.
Pebblebrook (28-3) had its 21-game winning streak come to an end. Andre Young led the Falcons with 13, while Craig Adams scored 12 and Jordan Brown added 11.
Berkmar led 26-22 at halftime but used an 8-2 run that began late in the third quarter to build the lead to 10. Pebblebrook trimmed the lead to seven, but a 6-0 Berkmar run midway in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach. Pebblebrook could only get as close as seven points in the waning two minutes, but Berkmar was 8-for-8 at the line during that stretch to push aside the comeback.
“There’s been teams that have had leads on them, but nobody has put them away,” Phillips said. “We didn’t put them away. Time just ran out. We hit some free throws, which was a huge part. If we don’t hit free throws, it becomes a game. And then we did a great job of making them make tough shots.”
Rideout said, “It starts with everybody’s energy and everybody’s mindset coming into the game. I know I’ve got to keep everybody grounded and locked in and just control the game and the pace and the atmosphere.”
GIRLS
Norcross 54, Campbell 51
DeNaeja Morton’s clutch 3-pointer from the corner with 40.1 seconds remaining lifted No. 4 Norcross to a 54-51 win over Campbell.
Campbell missed two close opportunities around the basket and came up short on a 3-point attempt in the waning seconds. Norcross was able to corral the loose ball and end the game.
Norcross weathered a terrible start and overcame a shaky finish to reach the final. The Blue Devils will play the winner of Saturday’s game between Archer and Harrison on March 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Macon Coliseum.
Campbell scored the first eight points of the game and led 14-5 after the opening quarter. But Norcross turned the tables and reeled off 17 straight points to open the second period and led 22-14. Norcross led 27-21 at halftime and was up 43-34 to start the final period.
The unranked Spartans refused to quit and tied the game at 47-47 on two free throws from Nia Bozeman. The game was tied two other times before Morton’s deciding bucket.
Norcross (25-5) was led by Zaria Hurston with 22 points. Jania Akins scored nine and Laniya Kenon and Lindsey each scored eight.
Campbell (20-11) got 17 points from Bozeman, 11 from Laila Battle and eight from Jaida Fitzgerald.
Norcross is seeking its fourth state championship and first since 2013. Campbell was trying to reach the title game for the first time.
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