You're watching the NCAA Boys and Girls basketball championships on TV.

Georgia Public Television presents the Georgia High School Association's Boys State Basketball championships.

Major funding for the broadcast of this event is made possible in part by IBEW Local 613, Georgia's Electric Membership Corporation, South Trust Bank.

And by viewers like you.

And welcome back, everybody, to Championship Weekend as we roll on from Macon, March Madness and Claxton and Taylor County coming up in the single-A championship game.

Claxton a champion in 1988, but Taylor County comes in as the defending single-A state champions here in 2002.

They won it back in 2001 and also won a state championship back in 1966.

So that's the story on the Tigers and the Vikings.

And to call this game down court side are two guys that know basketball and know basketball well.

Dave Garner and Phil Hansen.

Hey, guys.

Hey, how you doing?

Thanks to you, I'm Dave Gardner, alongside my broadcast partner of five years now, Phil Hansen.

We've been here quite a while, but I tell you what, great matchup today, Claxton, Taylor County, single-A boys match up.

Very athletic.

I tell you what, if you like fast paced up and down, basketball will sit down because this one's tailor made for you.

Of course.

Clarkson with some big guns.

And they're going to look at one of them right there.

Number five, Karl James.

Karl James is the man that gets these guys going.

He can score inside, outside.

He also can create scoring opportunities for his teammates.

Outstanding wheels great penetrator.

Good.

Now another guy, Jermaine Wilkerson, 31 points last week against number one Southwest Atlanta Christian.

He is the big gun and he shot back breaker threes just when southwest Atlanta Christian was making a run he'd hit a big three.

He's also the quarterback of the football team and he plays like that.

He's guts of a robber.

Now, flip side of that, as Jim mentioned, Taylor County looking for two in a row, last year's defending state champion class.

They've also got two weapons on that side of the court as well.

They are loaded.

This big fella, I love him.

Alvin Daniels has got feathery, soft hands can catch you can score in the box.

Also an excellent passer and oh, man.

Alvin Daniels, 22 points against Whitfield Academy last week.

If you look at his numbers he's got he can score and he can also pass.

So this guy is the one I really like.

Derek Lockhart.

Every team needs a guy like him.

He does all the dirty work, not afraid to get his hands dirty, can go inside, outside, every loose ball he'll be flying all over this place.

You know, we talked about rebounding is certainly being a big key to the contest.

When you look at Clarkson's lineup, though, they don't have a guy over six foot two.

They've been out, rebounded about four rebounds a ballgame, but their quickness might just be enough.

And this again, their speed kills strange thrills.

And Clarkson does an excellent job of getting their body between the opponent in the backboard.

When you look at the averages Claxton averaging 63 points on offensive ball game compared to Taylor County 70 but both teams defensively right around 54 points allowed.

That's not bad at all.

Let's go ahead and throw it on down and take a look at the starting lineups for today's contest.

Right as your home team.

There you look, Smith, Wilkerson, Wilkerson, James and Bell, the Wilkerson brothers, Jermaine and John, of course, a Georgia Southern football signee.

Also a big gun there for the Tigers going go ahead, throw it on down.

Number three, Jimmy Wilkerson, they need it.

Freaks me out for Taylor County at me, a six foot three sophomore number 30.

Antonio.

Up first for Claxton, heading forward, five foot 11 finger cover.

Here's Roscoe Smith for Taylor County at forward, a six foot one passenger number 15, Derrick Luck, hard for Claxton at Center, six foot one Finger Number two, Guard Wilkerson for Taylor County at Center, the six foot senior number 13, Brandon Little for Claxton at guard for five for the senior number 12, Stewart Bell for Taylor County.

Yes.

Guard a five foot 11.

Frazier Number 23.

Dupree.

Turner for clutch five for him.

Stranger Number five.

Paul Jay Burke Taylor County Guard, a five foot seven.

Senior Number four, Jonathan Taylor may be flexed on his coach by coach Mark Stroud.

Taylor County is touched my coach and yeah championship weekend continues in just a moment classic boys coming up from the Macon cineplex.

We'll be right back.

Funding for broadcast of the GHC Boys and Girls Basketball Championships is provided in part by the following.

You're watching the GHC Boys and Girls Basketball Championships on TV.

Dave Garner back alongside Phil Hansen.

You know, plenty of basketball going on in the state of Georgia this weekend.

You got the SCC tournament right up the road at the Georgia Dome.

But all eyes, of course, are focused right here on this match up high school basketball class championship, Clarkston Tigers and the Taylor County Vikings and Keys.

This is going to be a dandy.

Couple of things we got to look for rebounding.

You got if you want to win this championship, you got to control the glass half court offensive execution, defensive transition and most importantly, mental discipline.

Antonio Ogden with the tip for Taylor County.

But it's Claxton in control.

Jermaine Wilkerson with the ball dribbles out and loses the handle, but gets it back to Bell.

He puts up the shot wide of everything, though misses Spann Taylor out of there with it.

Not a bad shot.

They got the shot within their offense.

They're good.

Look at today's officials Aaron, Stuart, Dave Low and Randy Oglesby, Jonathan Davis up top.

Now over to Turner looking inside and won't go too strong with the foul was there Nice job by Antonio Ogburn this big fella hit the boards hard in the semifinal against Whitfield Academy, six foot two sophomore quickly back on the other end, three on one on the other end.

A block from behind by Lockhart still loose.

There he is.

Now he's over there in the ice skating part of the facility.

This guy is going to be all over the floor, block out that six one senior, Taylor County, not very big as well.

So neither team having to worry a lot about size.

We'll see Alvin Daniels later on.

That's six for Junior for Taylor County, the tallest guy on the floor today.

That's Carl James Taylor County, the man to man up top Stewart Bell driving puts it up.

And in this tandem of James and Bell really do a nice job of penetrating and kicking, they really get to the front of the rim.

Stewart Bell 15 points last week against a number one southwest Atlanta Christian.

They're going to look at the coach, Andy Hardman, the head coach of Taylor County, a seventh year, 150 and 45.

Not a bad mark at all.

This guy's sensational.

Vikings back on the other end.

Taylor County, of course, out of region two a shot and it's there.

Nice job.

Jeffrey Turner Turner averaging 11 points a ballgame this year.

The senior makes it 4 to 2 back on the other end.

Wilkerson Too strong and Lockhart down there with it even though Taylor County when they win that 1 to 2 press, what they were able to do is create a quick shot on behalf of Clarkson, even though it didn't go in.

That's the thing they want to do.

They want to force you out of your off.

Roscoe Smith.

Nice job.

On the other end, there's Mark Stroud, the head coach, third year at Claxton, Claxton, 67 and 24.

That's also a pretty strong record.

That's one of the reason these two teams are here.

They're very well coached, long shot by on for an outside walk off the back of the iron still loose and brought down by Smith.

So Claxton running as we mentioned, these guys are run 94 feet all day long.

He's got to stop dribble penetration.

You cannot let the guy go 94 feet with the ball.

Top returner on the other end pulls up, look to dish it back out, gets it out to Davis Claxton doing a nice job of pushing Taylor County away from the basket.

They're operating from the top of the key Brown little down town for the sophomore three point bucket makes it 7 to 2 and a whistle.

Well that's one thing in a drama coach crazy.

Any time you pass somebody in the open court that guy didn't go out to get a pop point.

He's coming in from behind you.

You've got to be cognizant of the fact to know where he is.

You got to flare yourself out on a flare, dribble to the sideline, using that to block in 32nd timeout called by Clarkson, Coach Stroud wants to talk things over a quick start for Taylor County here Brandon with that big three point shot kind of set the tone.

You know, we talk a lot about the inside game, but as you mentioned before the broadcast, we were talking about the quick play of the guards and how they can really dictate the tempo.

Exactly.

Tempo is going to determine who wins this game.

Coach Stroud, an excellent job in the semifinal game of really calling it using his timeouts.

Well, they're going to look at the road to make it for Claxton Southwest Atlanta Christian, that big ballgame, 7263, another upset and the road to a championship will have to go through Taylor County.

Clarkson looking for the first title since 1988 and a three point shot by the Tigers a little short, that time by John Wilkerson.

And now a whistle in the lane.

He's got great hands in Wilkerson here.

Anything it comes near and he's going to catch and they're going to call Jonathan Davis for his first Taylor County is going to bring in Alvin Daniels, a superstar, and they're going try to bang it inside.

He can't read.

You've got to move your feet.

Don't play defense with your hand.

You got to play defense with your feet.

So Jermaine Wilkerson at the line, 12.8 points a ballgame and the first one runs out of there.

That's certainly been the knock.

Now, these two teams, this free throw shooting, it killed them in the semifinal game against southwest Atlanta.

They shot around 38%.

They have to improve on that today.

There's the big man right there.

You're talking about a six foot four, Alvin Daniels, 22 points last week in the series against Whitfield Academy.

He moves extremely well for his size focus and makes good on the second.

Here comes the press.

Vikings able to break it looking inside Alvin Daniels and he hits it.

Daniels already in the ballgame.

You look at the road for Taylor County through Portal, Clinch County, Hopkinsville, and of course, that 14 point victory against Whitfield Academy.

When you're able to score, not only does that set your offensive tempo, it sets your defensive tempo, but Daniels comes in and scores.

They jump into that press and get that quick turnover.

Jonathan Davis up top pulls up for the jumper.

No good call James back on the other end running.

That might have been a little quick.

You usually want to try to score on a jump shot off a pass Jermaine going up shooting off the side of the iron no good back the other way you want ball and man movement before the shot Turner with the basketball looking inside Daniels once again gives off a nice pass They play great high low action together you got to front the post If not, they're going to kill you inside all day.

DANIELS With four points here in this first quarter, the elite is now 11 three.

This is what Taylor County does for you.

They make you have to face every possession.

Here's no free lunches against them.

Vikings coming in as the number four team in the state.

Clarkson, the number 17 pulling off that upset last week against number one.

CLARKSON He's got to get a little more man movement there standing around a little too much they got to move in screen go outside.

Oh, what a go.

There you go.

If you move and cut to the ball, make a ball side cut.

But things are going to happen to you.

And with that, Karl James will head to the line.

James averaging 13 points.

Great game great ball Sidecut went right through the the foul you want to go through take the ball to the shot blockers just don't drift away any gap you create the defensive man is going to occupy the first four James out of there against pressure.

You have to make your opponent pay if they're going to press or they're going to jump up high on you and the half court said, you've got to make them pay on that pressure.

This is on both right and the free throw shooting woes.

Continue that one thrown off of Daniels.

So possession error will stay with the Tigers.

Heady play by Wilkerson Clarkson out of region three eight and one on neutral sites and I think that's going to be very important today there used to winning away from home but you have to if you want to be a championship team likes to step back well present from outside that would short Turner with it got stop the ball got to stop the ball coast to coast Turner up and in That's too easy you can't have that We got a rebound down at the far end dribble right pass us the score I know coach Stroud's not going be happy with that steal on the inbound and it's there Davis with the putback good time out.

Taylor County has widened the gap 15 to 3 with 350 left in the opening quarter.

They're going for the early knockout, so you got to stop the ball.

You can't let him go up there.

And if you're if you're going to foul him, you can't let his hands get above his shoulders.

Very athletic move as we talked about.

Both teams, very athletic coming in.

And there's one right there.

Turner's got great body control.

Well, you can't become a GP2 member today just by visiting our new and redesigned website W WW dot gpb dot org.

It's totally secure.

Simple to use and takes just 2 minutes that's W WW dot GPB board and thank you for your support of Georgia Public television for later on we're going to see the girls match up and there was a lot of press all week long about the amount of fans that both Pi Day and GHC drew.

But I'll tell you what, Taylor County and Claxton have traveled well together and they do an excellent job.

Here comes the press.

They're going to try to trap you on the sidelines, making the sideline an extra defender.

One out two can be for or one can be three still by Brandon Little.

The turnaround inside won't by go Daniels is there for the foot back in won't go block inside and a whistle going to be called Pentagon Buckley went up with it and he'll go to the line.

Taylor County has got the luxury of bringing in Barkley another inside player kind of like Lockhart is going to go after all these loose balls.

Now they're coming in with Charles Brown.

Number 11 gives him a little punch on the printer.

He's got great wheels getting really run foul on Roscoe Smith.

His first team second down.

The first one goes for Barkley.

Davis will step out and the second one also there.

So Buckley, two of two on that trip.

He's in the book and the league is now 17 three.

Another turnover off balance shot that time by little, and it won't go back on the other end.

Roscoe Smith all alone.

The pressure caused that day pressure cause that he had an open layup but he was rushed to make that shot.

Now against that press couple of things they may want to look at.

That's Claxton It's a one, two, one one.

First thing you want to do is look past back.

If past back is is covered, look middle or sideline, then up you go.

You have to send the cutter and replace the cutter.

Long horizontal passes are going to get you killed.

They have to be diagonal tigers with a little bit of backboard pressure there.

Turner gets it across.

There we go.

Now, there again, they're pushing Taylor County away from the basket.

They're going to get back in this game on the defensive end of the floor.

They've Charles Brown in the lineup, Albert Daniels from way outside short there That's the shot you want if you're Claxton one and done trying to get that bounce pass then they're lost arc beyond the arc won't go for Bell but Reggie Herring clears it out of there He throws up a three that runs off and a push inside.

Those shots are a little quick again, you want to get those off man and ball movement there.

You look at the field goal situation.

Claxton off to a very slow start right now.

Meanwhile, Taylor County better than 50%.

You want to play fast, but you don't want to shoot quick.

So Roscoe Smith with his second personal back to back fouls here Clarkson's in a man demand defensively but Allen picked off.

Nice job ahead to Harry pass too strong it stays in though but it'll be picked up by Roy Searcy back on the other end That's Turner look it inside Barkley with the shot it won't go follow won't go tip not there as well And the tigers up and running and slow down John Walker sent inside knocked away though and it's probably going to be called the good guys little out of control what pressure does it takes the ball out of your backcourt players and makes your front court players have to dribble.

That's a key of any press right into the camera, man.

You got to watch out down there on that baseline.

Little out of control.

You're not really used to handling the ball on the open floor.

Give it to a guard to pull it back out and wait.

You have numbers.

Searcy will inbound for the Vikings and there you look at the turnover picture 5 to 1 Claxton certainly hurting them here in this first quarter Taylor County up by 14 run of the floor here they've got the numbers Davis a pull up for the jumper it won't go rebound.

Wilkerson That was a nice job.

You know they didn't score.

They had proper space and they put pressure on the defense.

They eliminated the extra pass and they were under control.

Oh, James, miss it.

But Jermaine Wilkins Wilkerson is there for the follow.

Good timeout That's a great time out by and ANC hard win as we mentioned coaching record very impressive but overall over 500 career coaching victories unbelievable.

See this is excellent That came down and there's the shot and there's the foul.

A great job by Jermaine Wilkerson.

You never stop playing.

You always go north and south.

We were talking about Wilkerson, of course, scoring 31.

You said that's, you know, fairly easy to do in a 20 point game one way or the other.

But the game last week against Southwest Atlanta Christian was very tight throughout, very legitimate 31 BALL.

Exactly.

A lot of guys can score 30 when you're up 30 or you're down 30.

You know he makes big time shots when the games are close.

Excellent clutch player.

So after the timeout Brandon Little will inbound it the sophomore for the Vikings man to man press look for a little run and jump here and get him in the paint on the corners You got to try to get him sideline him down where you can use the sideline.

And the halfway line is a defender on 38 to go in the first quarter beyond the arc that little it won't go and a whistle and we'll go back on the other end.

Coming up Double-A girls high def and greater Atlanta Christian's schedule tip off time 330.

We'll have that action for you as well.

Then Decatur and Wilkinson County, 7 p.m. AA boys.

That's going to be a great contest there.

And of course, Mitchell Baker and Cross Keys.

We've had the opportunity of calling Mitchell Baker throughout the years very entertaining basket to what Mitchell Baker and what can the county of turn this into their own invitational tournament and all going to stay with Clarkson look for Jermaine Wilkerson now coming off you shoot the ball as the inbound or the inbound is always the most dangerous man on the floor.

WILKERSON Looking to get it in their lives it up high on a nice pass in there to James, but it wouldn't go on the inbound good play.

When they run that line formation, they're going to try to get that lob with James coming down the gut.

Turner to Davis Davis drive he puts up the runner and it's good a good looking shot there by Jonathan Davis All that dribble penetration will kill you by 19 to 5.

Wilkerson on the other end, pulls up for three he hits it well that's the start now they've got to do it on the defensive end The thought there's no ten point play.

They've got to keep stopping them on one end and come down on the offensive end and capitalize.

Jermaine Wilkerson, six points.

He leads all scorers here in the early going.

They going to front that post, make that passed up.

Tony Hunter picks it off Jermaine back on the other end baseline is too strong it won't go to tip not there and brought down on the other end by Lockhart and you get a rebound day you want to turn to the outside away from the defense attorney insights where the little guys play they'll be hacking and whack and at him all day.

Alvin Daniels will check back in that's six for JR. That's a nice luxury to have Bring him off the bench.

Definitely they're going to look at Antonio Ogburn who will take a breather, played nice minutes, played real nice minutes for Coach Hunter.

29 seconds left here in the opening period from the Macon Center blocks again, Dave Gardner along with Phil Hansen, bring you all the action with the rest of the Georgia public television group.

Glad you could join us, of course, Class A girls action.

Earlier today, it was Wesleyan 65 to 49 over Jefferson for wins over Jefferson this year for a very talented Wesleyan team there.

Coach Azar does an outstanding job, so Davis will bring it across 22 seconds and counting, being guarded by James to front him.

They go looking to get rid of it and Davis calls the timeout.

Very smart.

Good job coach.

Hard to enhance his team prepared very well timeout so a 32nd timeout on the floor are called by the Vikings again the Vikings out of region two Butler Georgia.

All right Dave we got 13 seconds to go before the quarter break.

You're trying to get the last shot of the quarter.

You're probably going to go attack the goal with about 8 seconds to go.

Says if there is a miss, they have one chance to tip it in.

Now, on the flip side, if you're Claxton you want again make them play from the top of the key and out.

Turn them a couple of times off the dribble and make them force a long shot or get the steal.

FEMA coach Mark Stroud.

It is third year with the Tigers, so let him survey the floor under 10 seconds left and across the post.

Oh John look it's a loses the handle on it so it'll stay with the Vikings selections.

Make sure now you've got to guard the boundary.

He's the most dangerous man on the floor stepping in for the shot behind a little with the inbound back out to Turner.

Turner.

3 seconds left.

Turner looks inside for Daniels the turnaround.

But I believe it's to wake up.

Well, that's it for quarter number 119 day Taylor County out to a fast start over Claxton the single-A boys championship.

We'll be right back here Funding for broadcast of the GHC Boys and Girls Basketball championships is provided in part by the following.

You're watching TV bringing you the best.

You're watching the GHC Boys and Girls Basketball Championships on TV.

Dave Grier.

Back with Bill Hansen here at the American Center Plexus.

Go ahead, throw it to the third member of our broadcast team, Phil Proctor.

Okay, guys, I'm over here behind the Claxton bench, and I'll tell you, there's no shortage of enthusiasm.

Also, Coach Start was just emphasizing going to timeout that, hey, even though we're behind guys we got to keep digging it out.

He pulled out the chalkboard, drew up a play and I guess we got to wait and see if it works.

Back to you.

All right.

Thanks, Bill.

Alvin Daniels inside just like that.

And Taylor County opens the second quarter, much like the end of the first.

Then you got to put more pressure.

You can't let him sit there like Dan Marino and survey the floor.

Nice press breaker.

Go inside and kick it back out diagonally.

Nice job by Claxton for all James kicks it back out to Wilkerson and away in quarter number two inside and a nice pop go That's good halfcourt offense good strong mental discipline right there Stewart Bell with the bucket underneath the big Daniels tough defense too here in the early part of the ballgame.

Both teams, as we mentioned, allow allowed only about 54 points a ballgame back in the other end.

TURNER No good off the mark and brought down by John Wall as a little quick they got to stop the ball Oh bounce pass to low the lost art of the bounce pass but a little bit too deep that time.

Well I think Coach Stroud would rather have James or Bell handle the thing in that situation.

Put the John Wilkerson on one wing and Jermaine on the other.

Then here we go, then attack that thing.

Taylor County off the inbound.

You know, we were talking a lot about mental discipline.

I know that's something that you talk about as being a key coming into this ballgame right now.

Clarkson's certainly going to be tested, definitely with to see that they weathered the storm a little bit their day.

They didn't pull up Patsy Cline.

They didn't fall to pieces there when it looked like it was grim.

But now they're right back in this thing.

They're only down 11, but they're playing better.

They're front in the post.

They to a little more ball pressure when they're trying to feed the post.

I think they're gonna be okay.

They have Tony Hunter in the game to help them on the perimeter.

Clarkson Does Carl James calling for that last foul his first.

That's too easy.

You can't let him catch it then you can't let him catch it right on the block where he's makes all his move.

If you got to get him to catch it either below the block is when he turns baseline.

Now he can't use the backboard on that one on John Wilkerson.

See right there.

See, he's used to going anywhere he go.

He does this in practice every day.

If you're going to if you can let him catch it that low, let him catch it below the block, because when he turns now he can't use the backward 15 foul on the Tigers.

Dan is at the line for the first time today and it's the first get a real soft touch there you look at Daniel's numbers 18 points of all game three of ten from the three point line, 22 points, as you mentioned, against Whitfield Academy.

Big effort there.

Coach Strauss now trying to go big.

He's bringing in Derrick Small help get a little inside help.

The second one, it just is out of there and brought down by a small good rebound.

Be patient.

Yeah this is what the pressure though does it speed you up?

Even though it may not get a turnover, it gets you to run quicker than you want to run ball with the ball kicks it back out three point shot no good by Welker some of the follows there Kyle James is everywhere he's inside he's outside tremendous body control great powerful lead back on the other end quickly the shot won't go for Taylor County now a whistle in the lane and it's going to be called on the Vikings Smalls doing a nice job is using his size now to negate the height of Taylor County.

Brandon Little called for that foul.

So the Tigers with the inbound and here comes Pentagon Barclay back in.

This is a great chess match They're going back and forth at each other, going small, going big.

This is excellent.

Now look center good.

There you go.

Super job.

Now be patient and a couple of passes, a couple of ball reversals and then you can get a layup small trying to get position inside on Daniels Karl James dribbling out and gulps and loses the handle on it and a nice job defensively by Taylor County pushing back on the other end Brandon Little with it pulls up for the jumper and it rattles in there Who can score you've got to locate the shooters look opposite great job just Tony Hunter got away with a walk out of the hole Eric Small dribbling kicks it back outside the bell and bell will reset up top five and a half to boy in the first half.

And from outside that's bell for three and one go and brought down by Buckley But turn to the outside young man they'll turn inside for the rest of the defense players are turned looking inside of Daniels he's going to be fouled You always want a bounce pass into the post.

Also you want to make that pass below the foul line extended, which will increase your angle, bounce pass into the post air pass out first, back out of the ballgame.

John Wilkerson.

And also looks like Reggie Herring, number 13 in there and Brad Little will inbound the sophomore for Taylor County, averaging 15 points a ballgame this year.

And now some words being exchanged.

Well, this is championship game.

I don't have a problem with that.

They got to get their officials take care of this.

Now watch for either a lob or a shot in the corner.

Good job by the officials to sort things out, Antonio.

So they're going to check in now for Taylor County.

I think they're going to set Alvin Daniels down and just kind of let them blow off a little steam there and try to get focused off the inbound.

DAVIS With the basketball outside the to the more active defensively now I like this back outside Davis getting a hand on every pass there's another kick here we go with the way to turnover so Claxton up with it Taylor County now has to be a little more patient relax Do you think the tables are getting turned teams that like depression apply a lot of pressure do not like that.

Same thing done to them.

The latest one with just under 5 minutes to play here in quarter number two, stir bell loses the handle in another turnover right back.

Well you don't want to catch the ball here right next to us at the halfcourt line and the sideline there again, those two lines become defenders and one man can become three or two can become four.

You have to keep the ball out of the trapping area, keep it in the middle of the floor so they can establish any weak side.

Help Barkley out of the lineup now Ogburn, Davis, Little Daniels back in also got Turner five on the floor.

That one goes oh Dave, you got a box out.

You're doing great job defensively.

You're now making Taylor County going one and done, but you got to get that rebound near a turnover there.

Antonio Ogburn on that last bucket.

Clarkson keeps it alive being pressure though big time.

Nice pass inside John Wilkerson has it knocked away and it's going to go off on Wilkerson.

He can't bring that ball down.

You got to keep it right at your chin and above.

Nice defensive play by Alvin Daniels, who sealed off the inside and Ray Searcy back in the lineup for Taylor County, a big time shooter hitting huge threes against Whitfield Academy in the standings.

But Taylor's doing a nice job with their press of making Claxton go sideline and down.

They're forcing to one sideline and right to the baseline Excellent job.

Taylor County was another one of those teams that nearly had two teams in the finals.

The girls falling though.

So the boys carrying the torch and Davis from outside too strong and our push inside.

That was a great pass by Searcy.

The ball went from one side of the floor, reverse back to the other side.

You're going to get a shot if you have ball movement and man movement, you are going to get an open shot.

Superb job moving the basketball foul, called on IBRA and his first and the team's fifth.

A little bit of backward pressure here by Taylor County.

See and Taylor is doing a nice job.

Sometimes it's hard pressure, sometimes it's soft.

And John Wilkerson making it look easy.

Excellent job.

That's what I'm talking about.

You have to make that press pay.

You've got to capitalize on your layups.

That's a lazy pass.

Yep.

Steal Reggie Herring, dishes it off and a nice pass inside to James job.

Drew, the defender made the pass but is not going be happy with that.

Carl James four points here in the early going averaging over 13 in the ball game and the lead is 26 to 16 Tigers trying to close the gap and another whistle cam with a hand check Kyle James with his second personal they can't lose him he's got to be smart now with 321 to go in the second quarter 17 fouls so the one and one here for Davis and Daniels as you see right there, takes another seat.

Jonathan Davis first trip to the line.

He's got four points today and a first for no good on the front end taken away by James.

Now, you don't want that foul 40 feet from the basket.

He's not gonna hurt you from there.

Oh 23 Joffrey Turner with the foul his first and the team's sixth with a baseline screen Oh nice move by nice and inside Claxton doing a nice job now so they get a few more passes now which is making that defense have to shift.

Reggie Herring with the bucket the senior averaging eight and a half points on the season we got a ballgame day Yes, we do.

CLAXTON making a run it was 14 points while ago.

Now the lead is eight.

The Clarkson is doing a nice job is making Taylor County pick up their dribble really high which is growing their offense the spacing out of that shot Wilkerson on the steal but the big shot wouldn't go Turner dribbling on the other end being pressured and Taylor kind of gets it out of there on the other end all alone.

The shot Don't go for Lockhart.

The follow is missed.

Slow down, slow down.

Give it to a guard.

They go right.

Stewart Bell from up top for three.

There's a little quick outlet.

Joffrey Turner.

Nice move inside.

Oh, underneath all alone is Derek Lockhart, your man ever leaves the double team diagonally?

Cut to the front of the rim.

You're going to get the lay up six one senior in the book for the first time today.

His first bucket and leads back to ten.

Back outside.

Now, look, look, look, look, look inside.

Reggie Herron gets rid of it.

James on the drive, pulls up and foul.

Well, he is tough off the dribble.

He is so tough off the dribble.

Oh, you got to slide your feet.

See if you reach.

You don't get that call every time.

Also, there should be some help side there.

That's not all.

Jonathan Davis This fall, if he gets beat, the help side's got to come second personal for Davis There you look at the numbers on James and the first one is in and out and now Daniels Orgeron and also looks like Raymond Adams check in Coach Hardeman has that luxury of able to play a lot of bodies in the semifinal against Whitfield his substitution pattern wore them down a little bit towards the end of the ballgame.

James hits on the second three of four from the line today, and it's a nine point lead, 2819 with under 2 minutes to play Adams into the lineup for the first time today.

That's Raymond, a senior.

See how high Clark's Clarkson is pushing Kayla kind of way from Betsy.

They're able to get inside there but they're making them start their offense almost from the center circle.

Antonio Ogburn on the bucket.

He's finally got six points here in the first half, averages nine on the year here.

Jermaine Wilkerson in the lane, right down the middle.

Great job.

Got to step in there and take that charge.

Eight points for Jermaine.

He's had a solid first half.

He's a scorer and he scores in pressure situations.

Turner brings it across for Taylor County in guarded by Bell.

Now inside, Daniels trying to work him back in there puts it up and it's there for the charge.

It'll go the other way.

Keep it cool.

Keep your cool.

Clarkson's in.

It was in a two, three zone there.

So when he turned, he had someone with him and you try to spin back inside, there was another man.

I think once he turned bang, There's the help.

Great job.

Football we're just talking about.

Draw the Chargers down on the other end.

Wilkerson must have heard you on the way back down the floor.

So John Walker symbol in about it now.

Taylor County showing a little pass back.

Pass back.

Send the guy to the middle and we'll pick it up there.

That pass going gets killed.

Turnover under a minute to play in the second quarter now right back on the other end Wilkerson one on one loses the handle back to the Vikings because just didn't have the numbers they didn't have enough cowboys down there You've got it if you're going to in a fast break situation give you the numbers yes score.

If not, pull it out.

Let your offense come down, set, run your play and then you're off to the races.

You saw Coach Hardeman there.

You look at Coach Stroud, Diagraming out the final 45 seconds, the turnover picture, Claxton with 11, Taylor County with six.

Well, that's the difference in the game right there That and the rebounding Davis off the dribble puts up a floater and won't go follow won't go behind Barkley and I'm going to say his book was on the line Wilkerson erratic rather Reggie Herring came up with that one but is he always right there on the baseline Coach Stroud for Clarkson's done a nice job of going small now to counter Taylor County's quickness Tony Hunter into the lineup and James will take a seat the final 30 seconds of the second quarter off the dribble Brandon Little kicks it back out to Turner Golden Look at the floor Derek Lockhart want the ball inside So I think they missed a foul They knocked away last touch by Taylor.

So Claxton with perhaps one final shot here 19 seconds left plenty of time to set something up.

Well, that part you can't throw that lob.

Tony Hunter with an excellent down there.

The foul fabulous bounce pass to Harry Reggie Haring with his fourth point of the day, you'll have a chance for a three point play.

Now, you can't get too giddy here because when this goes in, Taylor County's going to come right back edge That's an excellent bounce pass any pass into the post, go into the basket, make it a bounce, pass Your receiver can now have the time to catch it.

Brandon Little second personal cheering Apple on and in three point play won't go there a little short on the free throw 10 seconds left they got to go they got to go stop the ball Turner pushes it across, loses the handle Reggie here he puts it up at the buzzer.

It won't go.

And we're 3023 at the half Taylor County solid out to a fast start but you got to applaud the effort of Claxton stretching throw it on down with coach.

Okay.

I'm down here with Coach Stroud.

Coach, I'm tired watching this game.

And what do you think about it?

I tell you what, Taylor does a great job.

They've got a lot of speed, quickness.

We just start out and then have a good first quarter.

Just kind of just get settled in.

We played better same quarter.

We just got too many turnovers.

We just got to settle down and take what they give us.

We missed a lot of easy ones inside.

I feel we can regroup, make the adjustments.

We're going to have a good second half.

All right, Cause what about the rebounding then?

You guys seem to be getting out, rebounding.

We've got rebound every game this year.

Just about.

That's nothing new for us, but hopefully we find a little bit more desire and hawks.

We come out and we get after a little more.

Okay.

Good luck in the second half goes well, there you have it.

30, 23 of the half time scorer Taylor County leads it over Claxton.

We'll take a timeout.

Be right back right after this.

Funding for broadcast of the GHC Boys and Girls Basketball Championships is provided in part by the following.

As you're watching the GHC Boys and Girls Basketball Championships on TV.

And welcome back to the Macon Coliseum.

It is halftime of the Boys single-A State Championship.

Here you see a score.

The Vikings lead it 30 to 23 at the half.

And of course Taylor County looking to repeat as state champions on the single-A level.

Of course, the Tigers won championship back in 1988 and that was back in.

All right.

Let's go courtside now and Phil Proctor.

Hey, Phil.

Okay.

I'm standing down here with the principal, Miss Bonnie Brennan.

Now, I didn't like principal's much in school because I always got in trouble a lot.

But it's good to have you here.

Give me your assessment of the game so far.

I think it's just what we anticipated has an excellent ball club, and so does Tyler County.

So is everything that we expected it to be quite a battle?

Okay.

Tell me a little bit about Tyler Cowen.

Tyler Cowen is a small rural county that I has a lot of pride in their basketball program.

And our girls made it to the Final Four and our boys play in here for the championship game.

It's just quite an honor for us.

We're just happy to be here for the second year in a row.

So how many people do you think came up for the game?

Several hundred.

There's not too much going on in Tyler County today because all everybody from Tyler County just about is here.

And we appreciate that as a school in this county.

Well, we definitely appreciate you.

That's Bonnie Brandon, the coach at Taylor, I mean, the principal of Taylor County.

And now with the swing over to Mr. Charles Duvall, who is the principal at Claxton.

Sir, thank you for being here.

Your assessment of the game so far for summertime, your assessment of the game or.

Assessment of the game.

I'll tell you, we've been playing it's been a pretty fast paced game.

The boys have been working hard.

A lot of perseverance out there on the basketball court with our young men.

Okay.

Now tell us something about Claxton.

Claxton We're not over to single-A school.

We've got about 470 students at the high school.

Students have been working pretty hard this week for for the basketball tournament.

And we're just excited about being here because you guys bring up everybody from down in that area.

We've got a big following here today.

We've got to meet here as we can get here today.

We're at 145 game week.

We've done a super job getting the crowd here, I think.

Okay.

Now, how long have you been down in Claxton?

I've been in Claxton five years.

Well, we appreciate your being here.

Thank you very much.

And there you have it, the principals right now.

We've got a great game going on behind us.

Back to you, Jim.

All right.

Thanks, Phil.

It's always good to hear from the principals and the entire community is down here.

And you bet the communities from Pi Day and AC are here as well.

That's the game.

Coming up next, the double Girls championship between the Pythons and the Spartans, Greater Atlanta Christian, that game going to start roughly about 330 this afternoon.

Now let's go courtside again to Dave Gardner, Phil Hansen, guys.

All right, thanks, Jim.

Again, a very fast paced first half.

As expected.

We were talking about both teams running 94 feet up and down the floor.

And that's exactly what they did.

They came out firing.

Let's go out and take a look at some of the first half highlights between Taylor County and Claxton.

You're looking at Turner for Taylor County pushing.

You've got to stop the basketball on championship play.

No easy layups, make them earn that at the foul line forced the Vikings out to a fast start.

But Jermaine Wilkerson, the big key for Claxton in that first half great footwork, stepped right in there and knocked that three point down.

And they're going once again.

Brandon Little puts it up.

And we talked about the inside game up.

The perimeter shooting is also there.

See, that's a good three That was where he came off man and ball movement And then the other number 13 Reggie hearing with a nice dish to Karl James excellent job James never stops playing offensively or defensively whether he's getting a rebound or score and he does a superb job of moving first half stats Of course, seven point lead for Taylor County field goals, 13 of 31 for Taylor County, ten of 28 for Claxton.

The turnovers, though, certainly the big story in that first half, 11 to 8.

Claxton needs to cut down on that to get back in this ballgame, but they're still in it.

Exactly.

Also, look at the free throws, two for seven.

That's going to get you killed in championship play.

You've got to shoot those better when it comes down to championship play.

Of course, during the break talking things over with the coach talk about rebounds as well.

He's saying that they've gotten rebounded in just about every ball game this year with that small lineup.

They are they give up about four rebounds a ballgame, but nonetheless, they rely on their quickness and their shooting.

They're going to look at the pie day already.

Python's warming up for the match up.

Coming up immediately following this contest, they'll take on the greater Atlanta Christian Lady Spartans, last year's state champion trying to make it two in a row.

That will be a great matchup there.

We talked about Gwinnett County being well represented.

GEC, of course, doing an excellent job in part of out of Atlanta.

So two north end teams spread throat on back the bus to Jim Genarlow.

Thank you, Dave.

And boy, a championship weekend.

It's always a lot of fun being down here in Macon.

Of course, Taylor County's looking to make it two in a row in single-A.

Can they do it?

We'll find out.

We'll have second half action coming your way after these messages.

And a word from TV funding for broadcast of the GHC Boys and Girls Basketball Championships is provided in part by the following You're watching member supported TV, your PBS station bringing you the best.

You're watching the GHC Boys and Girls Basketball Championships on TV.

And welcome back to the Macon Cineplex.

Let's go back down to the floor.

Phil Proctor Okay, I'm here with Coach Hartman.

Coach, what are you going to do in the second half?

That's a good question.

We got to do a better job of taking care of the basketball.

We got off to a good start, but then we turn the ball over too much, down a lot part of the first half alone.

But we don't do that.

We don't do a better job of handling that, then it's going to be a heck of a background.

Simmons, a very good coach with a good look in the second half when.

All right, let's go ahead, take a look at the leaders during the break.

They're going to look Jermaine Wilkerson with eight points, Karl James with five and Reggie hearing with four to lead the way for the Tigers here and for Taylor County.

A big effort in that first half.

Alvin Daniels with seven points leading the way.

Antonio Ogburn, a good first half, six points, and also Brandon Little pitching in with five.

They had great perimeter shooting from those two young men.

Some of those turnovers can be solely attributed to the defensive pressure that in the speed of the game, Taylor County.

Now it's almost like they're playing themselves.

They're a mirror of each other because now they're getting the same pressure that they're used to putting on other teams up by 14.

At one point, you got to wonder how close Taylor County was to delivering that knockout punch.

Claxton did a great job of working their way back, and they had him on the ropes.

And that's a solid testament to Coach Stroud and keeping his tune in there.

So the Tigers open up the second half with the basketball out of bounds there.

Again, if James will throw a bounce pass, that's a layup air pass going to get deflected.

Carl James from outside pulls the trigger won't go and Taylor out of there with it clears it Nice job by Ogburn to get that rebound Number four Taylor County number seven Claxton two in the regular season time out Angie Hardman over 500 plus career victories but 46 and eight or something like that in postseason that's also unbelievable So that's ball pressure right there.

Bell's is all overturned, but I like what I saw out of Taylor County in that first possession.

They were going to run some resemblance of their offense.

They're going to pass and screen away.

They was trying to sneak one in there inside, but take it away.

Oh, if you put the ball on the floor, it's never coming back up on a nice job by Brandon Little now great hands.

So Davis out of there with it.

Both teams back up and down the floor, but no score here now.

We played nearly a minute of the second quarter.

Little driving puts up the shot won't go down and Roscoe Smith out of there and has knocked away Lockhart pulls up for the jumper that won't go the follow is there though by Turner and a nice job inside Taylor County does a nice job when they rebound and getting right under basketball and going straight up to get it turn it out a very big guy but he had position in there Bell dribbling on the other end back outside, Wilkerson puts it up and it goes a nice looking shot there excellent dribble penetration took him off the dribble stop and pop So Jermaine Wilkerson in double figures and the first player to do that today Davis Now looking back out, you never want to jump the pass, Dave.

BORGERSON One on one loses the handle, he'll kick it back out.

Oh, and a double dribble.

Looks like.

So once again, another turnover.

Look at Alvin Daniels so tired and goes to his bench early trying to get the big guy in the game.

You know, Alvin it was kind of funny.

Is as dominant as he is a leading scorer, basically not a not out but doesn't really start comes off the bench.

But once he's in there, he's pretty much in there He's tough.

Clarkson to a nice job in front of him now in the post today was nice pass inside Lockhart won't go John Wilkerson out of there with it It was all created by the dribble penetration that drew Roscoe Smith over to Clarkson which allowed the pass to get in there.

John in the lane puts it up with the left hand won't go that move my coach Stroud now whoever Daniels is guarding, he's pulling him out making him play one on one, getting him away from the basket to free up the baseline.

Nice effort by Jermaine Wilkerson.

Like to see guys hitting the floor and that's what he did there.

Nearly came up with the steal which championship play Dave so Brandon little will inbound for Taylor County the sophomore got a help Oh nice job defensively last touch though by the Tigers they've solved that riddle They're getting a little more ball pressure on the passer plus the front in the post and then the offside man is supplying the the help from the backside off the inbound.

Davis kicks it way out too little little being guarded by Wilkerson and Atlanta back Clarkson speed definitely throwing a little bit of a monkey wrench into Taylor's offense Brandon little in the lane but the travel it's an absolutely attributed to the pressure It's like fool's gold.

You think you can take them off the dribble and all of a sudden now you've got the help come in there on the backside.

They're going to look at Wilkerson, John Wilkerson on the sideline talking things over with the coach Stroud One, two, one, one.

Press again, employed by Taylor County.

James brings it across now dishes outside for three to strong by Bell Roscoe Smith is there though don't bunch spacing spacing floor balance and timing are the keys to any offense raucous and in the lane wild shot won't though trying to follow his own shot but he'll draw the foul He's got great arms he keeps that ball above his head the whole time.

Well it was a quick ups it's an up he goes like a cross screen.

Wow.

What That's a third foul, by the way, on Jonathan Davis Tigers get it imbalance.

Tony Hunter number one.

Now back to James Connell.

James, five points in that first half and the shot from outside won't go from Wilkerson.

Roscoe Smith battling pulls it back in and now Hunter with the quick shot nails it But James also did though in that first half you know he didn't score a lot He did a great job of neutralizing Taylor County's back court defense in like 32, 27, four and a half to play in the third exciting ballgame from the make and center play.

So he's doing a superb job of keeping now Taylor County from operating where they want an offense.

Now those passes are longer and the timing isn't the same.

There's the pick off right there, Stewart Bell.

But he stepped out.

Good play.

And that was all solely attributed to Carl James.

He pushed Taylor County's guards further from the basket.

So now that's not a 15 foot pass.

It's a 1718 foot pass which allowed Bell to step in there and pick it off.

Derrick Lockhart, back in and James will sit down.

Davis is going to take him off the dribble and then pass to where the pressure comes from.

Reed, the third man defensively nice pass inside Allen Daniels.

Daniels first bucket of the second half, he's got nine points and he'd go to the line.

He broke him down off the dribble.

The help came out from the baseline.

And when every time you rotate inside out, you're in big time trouble defensively.

There he goes.

Take him off the dribble.

Here comes the help stepping up.

Nice pass.

And on this score, good body control foul on Roscoe Smith his third So one shot player each now with three fouls for both teams Daniels nine points today already get your hands up and out here I'm on the foul line Don't look a little tired one of two from the line today Make it one, two, three shot won't go The lead stays at 3427.

Good job That's bell with the basketball down to the corner and knocked away by Davis Taylor counting the two three zone They're going to mix it up at you all day they make you think in half to use your brain the whole game.

It's the zone.

Now you want to make two people playing, get in.

The gap of that thing fell off the Mark Daniels pulls it in a little bit of pressure there but they get it away and Ray Searcy up the turnover brings it across Good shooter they leave him alone.

He's going to hurt them.

Davis looking inside, nice cut.

Lockard puts it up and in and gets the foul.

Who's a poor man's Dennis Rodman without all the graphics.

If he does a nice job.

Lockhart averaging over eight points a ballgame.

Six one senior and it's six one.

He's one of the tallest gets up there on the floor Never stop Nice screen that the screener is always going to be the man that gets open If you want to get open young guys, when you play set of screens or run right at your man to freeze and then break open and he gets the free throw to go along with it.

So the three point opportunity there, he's got five points on the day.

The first foul on Jermaine Wilkerson and James with the basketball, Davis loses his footing at midcourt Now the pull up on the other in and that's Reggie Haring You got to locate the shooters you got to contest every shot.

No freebies today.

Got to stop the ball Turner back on the other end dishes it off the lock back for another one Oh that was all done by Turner.

Nobody stopped the ball when the pressure came.

He passed away.

It came from super job flex.

He's got to get back.

On the defensive transition of the floor.

Seven points for Derrick Lockhart, back to back buckets and it's 3929 the lead back to Nick Herring now on the other end for three no good downhill.

Daniels pulls it down for Henderson yes and nice pass down the lane Turner up and in They need a little time out here and a good call Mark Stroud going to call a 32nd timeout and once again Taylor County off and running.

They widen the gap 4129 with 252 to go in the third look at the cut don't stand make a diagonal cut to the basket.

You're going to get a layup.

Great body control.

Use the rim there to block his hand.

Put him in jail I'll put under by Joffrey Turner he's got eight points here and the ball game four since the break Taylor County again trying to make it two state championships in a row to three.

All right, let's go do it.

When they do come on, we got to go.

It got a little frenetic there going up and down.

Stop Claxton on the offensive end.

Keep running.

Your offense.

I said the Taylor County opened it up just a tad.

But if they'll run their offense, they can get the thing back to ten and then it's anybody's game.

James being pressured in midcourt, Wilkerson gets it away and back over to Haring.

Haring groups of being guarded tightly by Davis.

Do a nice job in that zone off of moving their feet.

Stewart Bell with the hop in the shot and a little interesting fans wanting to travel there and maybe they got a reason.

Great press break.

Grace Searcy on the other end for three no good Daniels fight for it.

Can't pull it down though.

And James comes out.

Daniels twisted his ankle and a play inside blocked from behind Turner with it.

BLOCK Hard knocks in the face with the ball and a whistle on the floor.

He did a superb job of taking his inside hand and going over the outside shoulder of the offensive man.

He think he came down on somebody's foot.

Yeah.

Albert Daniels walking around on the other end of the floor over there.

Here's a replay of that last one.

Oh, and you'll see that's a reach.

He got him on that second reach.

There's the twist.

Yeah.

Boy, that went to the outside, too.

He's got to keep moving.

Bill knocks down the first.

He's got seven.

Whenever you're going to block a guy's shot from behind, take your inside hand and go over his outside shoulder and you'll never touch him.

Oh, about 20 points of all game for Stewart Bell, perhaps.

Well, on his way to that one.

Auburn back into the lineup for Taylor County Bell two of two on that trip.

Well, the battle in the back courts has definitely had you let us down in this game.

It's been a lot of fun to watch.

Pressure by the Tigers, little dribbles between traffic three on one dishes it off to Lockhart has it partially blocked but they're going to call the foul Got him on the wrist.

There you go.

He gave up a three footer to get it to third.

Just take that all way to the glass.

Don't give that up.

Play on this one.

The first foul on Stewart Bell and the team's second.

So Lockhart at the line won four one on the day Make it two for two again if any anytime your man leaves the double team the ball inside don't stand diagonally.

Cut to the front of the rim and you'll get a layup.

If for Taylor County, you certainly want to see that man right there warm up only two points at the break.

One of their big guns and you certainly turn it on here in the third quarter.

Defensively, Davey's done an outstanding job all game, so it's three for three from the free throw line.

The lead is now back to ten 4333 and now they're going to lose a handle on it in the corner.

This is the Taylor County pressure.

You just when you think they love you to sleep, they point it back on you and hear that and they come and get you little off the inbound to Davis and pressure once again and a nice job Orgeron gets it out of there off the run.

Turner pulls up and he hits a shot again.

That was off man and ball movement.

The ball went from one side of floor to the other.

You're going get open threes all day.

Joffrey Turner with ten points.

He's also in double figures and that was taken away by Lockhart.

Taylor County Zone is proven to be very effective here in the third quarter.

Derek Lockhart stepping up boy on both ends of the floor, being very active at it and now here he is baseline off the dribble, the turnaround going go and a push inside this last push by Taylor County.

His back's a little tired for now watch a lob at there it is.

Are you going to guard that?

Oh, when they get in that line formation, they're going to bring the last man right to the ball to throw it up.

They have to go get it.

And Tony, Auburn here comes straight down.

It got you always got to see the ball.

See the ball, See the ball.

See the ball for you and the man.

Nice job by Auburn on that last one.

You saw him working on Daniel Zink a while ago over on the bench.

They got to keep the big ball loose.

Turn around John Roberson top shot great rebound by Hunter and won't go foul Still not in there but we're going to have a foul call You know those shots don't go in.

I like the way Clarkson is playing.

They're going at the basket.

They're attacking as opposed to being reactive.

They're being proactive.

So John Wilkerson at the line and he hits that Pelican Barkley back it for Taylor County.

Auburn will take a seat.

Well, Taylor's death, they're like Noah's Ark.

They have one true superstar and two of everything else up, up and no straight job.

Bell has had an outstanding game.

He and James both.

That backcourt has not let anybody down.

4736 The score 35 seconds left here in the third little on the other end he buries it It's about his second three of the day.

I mean he's hitting big shots.

They're going to find him.

He's got eight points first bucket in the second half facing don't bunch and now four outside that one rattles in and out of there they're going to turn around John Wilkinson Marco Carlo James is there doesn't outstanding job of getting the inside position go to the baseline and establish the position out James with seven points and it's a 12 point lead just when you think they're out and right back in it and a shot at the buzzer won't go by little 5038 is the lead for Taylor County one quarter away from repeating a state champ.

We'll be right back to the making cineplex right after this.

Funding for broadcast of the GHC Boys and Girls Basketball Championships is provided in part by the following.

You're watching the GHC Boys and Girls Basketball Championships on TV.

Well, that's a boys championship here in Macon.

Let's throw down to fill Proctor, who's standing by with an injury update of Alvin Daniels.

Okay, guys, I'm standing over here and Alvin is walking around on the now, you can tell he's in a lot of pain.

I talked to the trainers.

They said he should be able to go back into the game, but it's really going to be up to him right now.

Back to you.

But certainly good news for Taylor County if he is able to return.

But right now, though, the Guard certainly quick enough dictating the tempo of the ball game and that might be all they need.

Clarkson has stepped it up, too, defensively, but Taylor County with a big push there right at the end of the third quarter to widen the gap.

Clarkson's in a man to man defense to the side Lockhart back out for three short great rebound with a foul You shot Brandon little working hard outside in inside there he'll go to the line Don't bring that ball down when you shoot Do not stand Follow your shot They're going to look at Daniels trying to keep that ankle loosened up over there and watch the lob.

Watch a shot in the corner off the inbound trying to get it inside on Brown.

The turnaround knocked out of there by Wilkerson Nice job defensively and Claxton off and running.

Then the second job Hunter stopped the ball and Wilkerson came from the weak side.

Don't follow the jump shooter.

Oh my goodness.

And he's going to go to the line for three and that'll make it gray.

If you're a coach, you want to contest the shot, don't try to block the shot this contested.

So the Tigers with an opportunity to get this thing into double four to single digits.

But of course free throw shooting as you mentioned, a weak point So this stops the clock and allows Claxton to score again without any time running off.

Wilkerson two of two now from the line on the day they're dangerously keeping it close.

They wow.

And this is 11 points today for Jermaine Wilkerson.

They everybody's got their hands down.

You've got to get your hands above your opponent's shoulder so you can rebound if your hands are down here.

The ball's never going to get there.

And the third one is there.

So two out of three, not bad for Jermaine Wilkerson and lead is back to ten at 5040.

So within striking distance and now the defensive intensity kicks for the Tigers.

James has done a nice job of trying to nullify Davis all get all game set a good match matchup these two Davis up top being guarded by Carl James and he's not letting him go north and south with the ball make him go east and west Turner back out Davis in the lane pulls up and it won't go and Hunter brings it down.

But Hunter's had an outstanding ballgame for class.

He runs the floor extremely well And there's Hunter pulls up for the long range jumper in and out of there.

And now just like that Brandon little off and running smartly pulls up though the numbers were against a super play.

Jonathan Davis tries go for the bank had a chance going to be called on Davis and that should be four fouls on him He's got to be smart now he didn't really have the numbers you know in shot selection if your shoulders are square and you have proper rebounding, then go ahead, let it go.

Don't go in there.

One on five.

Coach Hardeman bringing Davis out here, bring in Charles Brown has excellent wheels really can run Hails the ball nice so that hurts now Taylor County in foul trouble Clarkson's done a nice job of flashing a cutter to the middle and looking opposite the swing.

The ball hits the breast from outside, shot off the box for Wilkerson and brought down Nice job there By number 11, Brown Brandon Little pulls up launches one and he hits a shot.

That's one of those No, no, no.

And then when he goes in yes, 11 points for Brandon Little don't pick up your dribble there The latest 13 tigers quickly back on the other end James with the left hand and it goes oh, I love him He wants the ball and big time situations He is a clutch player.

He came and got it and then scored James with nine points there.

Got to look at the three point field goals today.

Clarkson just one of 13 still Stewart Bell with it with your help Good foul That's a good foul That was going to be a layup unless he stopped that right there was a good foul and that's Turner right there Turner quick off for his third and and now our Daniel is going to check back in it looks like for Taylor County so going with the bigger lineup want to see how his ankle holds up here's Bell wants to reach it and that's a good foul because they had a layup coming right there his back mate backcourt mate was coming right down there for the layup on the pass.

An excellent job Daniels is six foot four JR twisted and a while ago but he's back in there and Stuart Bell off the back of the iron no good on that free throw Dave I don't mean to be redundant but you have to make these free throws down the stretch three of three up until that one and now three of four.

Lock out the turnaround off the glass.

It won't go that rim been too friendly inside today Clarkson is doing a nice job now of making Taylor kind of go one and done offensively and they can cut the lead to nine here and they do Man what a drive by James they've got to make him go east and west.

They're allowing him to penetrate too deep into the lane, which is forcing Taylor County to rotate inside out, which is exposing them defensively.

James in double figures, little with the basketball up top over to Turner now back out so you give them ten left they're making him pick up the dribble way out here at the halfcourt line with the defensive pressure Turner around the world baseline and a nice guy bailed him out they bailed him out TURNER With a dozen in the ball game, Stop the ball.

Lead back to 11 now.

WILKERSON for three and won't go all loose.

JAMES Back out of there with it puts up the shot it won't go and little with it for the Vikings.

Oh, oh, stop the ball.

Stop the ball Behind the back little pulls up.

Oh, block block picks it right back up though it hits.

How about that?

He's very good in the transition Brandon Little with a baker's dozen and now a whistle on the floor and a flush.

Carl James working hard in there trying to make Taylor County move off the ball Great block by Wilkerson.

But you've got to come up.

Don't stop playing ball personally.

Nice job at the presence of mind to step in there and knock that down to very good composure, too, after having that shot blocked.

Right Turns right back around and hits it.

Anyway, here we are.

We're back to the line again.

Dave Clarkson has to make Taylor County pay.

Now they're bringing Davis back in.

That is Taylor County.

Look for Clarkson to try to run a play run James at him to get him out of the game for fouls.

On Brandon Little for Taylor County.

James misses on a free throw That's Charles Brown with the ball a lot of time a lot of time on the run their double high stack offense they run this is the lane they'll run it the score a couple of ways you want to defend this keep a guy at the top of the pick and they have a guy on the inside of it and a turnover Stewart Bell on the other end driving Oh it won't go bell on the follow big block from behind by Barkley used up backboard don't finger roll now inside Ogburn puts it up short Good job by Roscoe Smith holding his ground super job by that young man Tiger basketball last touch by Taylor down 348 to go 5744 Tigers trying to make a run but Taylor County has had an answer.

Taylor County's going to put them in that Tiger Paul every time offensively that double high stack offense at the elbows back out to bell bottom side Jermaine Wilkerson on the drive baseline loses the handle still loose and Ogburn out of there with it Turner three on to brown tips it out Nice pass don't bring it down Parker losing the handle ball still loose and take it away And then last touched by John who loses the handle That's what these guys are playing hard.

DAVID They're playing hard now.

They're going to say it was knocked out last touch by the Vikings.

So Clarkson will maintain possession.

Coach Harmon's begging his team to show composure and relax, to settle down and play GHC State Championships class AA boys from the May consider Plex.

They've gone along with Phil Hansen.

With all the action in that zone, he's been very effective as a Taylor guy in the second half.

Now from outside Reggie Herring in and out super job by changing your defenses Now watch this.

They're going to go with that one four double stack offense at the elbows.

Jonathan Davis They're going to pop out the back man up.

There's pass and he's going to get back into the rotation there.

They're going bring it the other side.

And has it knocked away their field goal percentage?

Claxton 30%.

Taylor County, 42 And you're not going to do a whole lot when you're shooting like that.

Well, that's solely attributed to Taylor County's defense.

They're forcing those shots.

Time out on the floor.

Taylor County talking things over there.

Go look at Viking faithful making the trip from Butler, Georgia, for class AA teams.

These folks have traveled real well.

Every year it gets better and better.

This is just a fabulous event coming down here to making the Coliseum.

The Central Plex does a superb job of putting this thing together.

You look at Coach Mark Stroud, of course, Claxton Geraint Hooker set up 19 points in the first round against Lee County in overtime ballgame against Johnson, very big character builder I think for this Claxton team in that big win over metter James had 14 on that one and then of course the big upset the Southwest Atlanta Christian victory.

There you can become a TV member today just by visiting our new and redesigned website That's W WW dot GPB dot org.

It's totally secure simple to use and takes just 2 minutes that's W WW doggie keyboard and remember thank you for your support of Georgia Public television Look back to when one wouldn't like it any other way they've dealt with adversity all year after inbound Davis loses the handle nice got the double team the ball James on the other end all alone lays it in super got so used to the backboard on that shot don't if you're going to dunk it Duncan if not use the backboard on a layup don't finger roll if he's going to roll out Karl James with 13 points he takes over the scoring lead for the Tigers over a nice pass inside to Daniels the big guy.

Nice catch.

Great catch.

Daniels out for several minutes with that ankle.

But he's back in there and nails his first bucket in the fourth that shot off the mark from the corner, knocked away.

And now Davis all alone on the other end, being trailed in foul.

That's a good foul.

They talked about the hustle of Jermaine Wilkerson all day long.

And there's another example of it right there.

He is everywhere, of course, some other action coming up today.

Next, it's Pi day and greater Atlanta Christian and Girls action going to be a great ball game.

There are two very talented teams that later, boys Decatur taking on Wilkinson County Wilco, a team that we saw within the past couple of years here playing for the state championship and also three AA mitchell Baker and Cross Keys.

That's going to be a great matchup, very athletic teams there, teams with great tradition, tradition of winning.

Jonathan Davis missing on the first free throw Buckley back in the lineup now for Taylor County again will take a seat and Daniels once again on the bench working on that ankle look for Taylor County now they've gone small.

They're going have a little token pressure just to eat up a little bit of clock here on Clarkson now one in and out so Davis oh for two from the line Oh you don't want that if you're coach that that foul 93 feet from the basket it just it'll kill you don't reach move your feet puts them in the bonus one three plus gives your second guard four fouls and that's a double whammy Joffrey Turner with four fouls Jonathan Davis four fouls.

Brandon Little with four fouls.

So Claxton has the advantage here.

And if you're the Tigers, you want to start taking it to the hoop, maybe trying to get some of those guys to foul out.

Plus, when you file down there, you stop the clock and allow them to score without any time having to elapse to Maine.

Wilkerson has certainly a strong point out the charity stripe today, four of five.

He's got 13 for the trio of James Wilkerson, and Ballard definitely showed up today.

Hunter has been an Alpha, an outstanding job off the bench.

This is on the ladder lead at 12 and time, winding down under 2 minutes and we'll just start playing that ballgame there.

BLOCK at midcourt yes but from the foul and put their offensive player in the game if they score and there's a dead ball, they're gonna try to put their defensive player in the game.

There's a lot of time.

Dave, You don't want to get in a huge three point contest now if you're Claxton Because what happens if you miss that free kick?

Then you're going to force the foul and then it puts Taylor County back on the line and now you're playing against the power.

Third, you never gonna be able to catch up.

Look for a easy shot inside score, then apply your pressure, look for the steal and then if you don't get it then foul and put him on the line.

Davis makes good on the first down and the second one rattles out of there.

So Davis one of two on that trip, five points.

First point of the second half on the last free throw, here's a three point shot, but off the mark, just like you mentioned, Phil Brannan, a little fouled and will shoot some free throws on the world of time if you keep shooting these threes and miss now you foul and put them back in this situation where they're at the line and now they go up 1 to 2 again with you out.

Well you're not able to close the gap.

They're going to look at the expressions on the faces of these coaches.

Coach Stroud on the right, Coach Hardman on the left for Taylor County, who Clarkson's got two fouls to give before they put him in that extra bonus of ten fouls, little at the line.

And the first one rattles under nice shooter's touch You got the friendly rim 14 points for Brandon Little is average 15 a ballgame so he's right on pace for that and knocks them both down.

Tell you it's a little token pressure.

Claxton quickly down on the other end and that's Haring who puts it up and hits the three.

They've got to go in.

They got to get a foul go for quick again nine points for Haring.

They get it out of there.

Good job.

But pick off taken away Haring once again long range downtown.

It won't go James the follow it up too strong it won't go and Taylor County back at full time take your time they've got the numbers and a charge I believe they called Dave You don't need the points.

Pull it back out Your adversary now is the clock.

You know the heck with who you're playing.

You know you want that clock to 000 or pull it back out run that Tiger Paul offense that you have and you're in good shape that's going to be five fouls on Brandon Little so he will come out of the ballgame but he will foul out with 15 points So a great day overall and a good job.

He had a very nice game Taylor County brings in Brown They're going to look at a little over on the bench his day is now complete.

He'll have to watch his teammates try to wrap it up from here on out.

Stewart Bell with the ball a minute on the clock in quarter number four and the turnaround won't go from three point range.

And Turner smartly pulls it up and the Vikings work the clock here with 50 seconds left.

They lead it by 1219 points His pass and move pass and cut that for Claxton.

You got a foul press issue You guys keep the ball one side of the floor.

Don't let it get back to the minute.

Keep it on one side.

He couldn't keep it here Barkley with it.

They'll take it back out of top.

TURNER Time winding down 30 seconds.

Let a lot of time lapse and they get the turnover but maybe too little too late.

Here's Stewart Bell pulls up for three.

The shot won't go.

Haring will pull it back beyond the arc.

He'll put it up.

That won't go by Taylor County's one, two, three zone to a23 match.

He's been very effective today.

Back on the other end.

Davis All alone.

LOCKHART Off the glass up, but won't go on the pass.

Little show biz there.

The three point shot won't go, but the final seconds will kick off the clock.

And the Taylor County Vikings have it again.

They are the class AA state champions and 2002.

I never get tired of seeing kids having fun.

That's great.

Unbelievable.

The Vikings from Butler, Georgia coach Andy Hardman, 523 career coaching victories now and another championship.

Let's throw it down to Phil Proctor.

Okay, Coach, what are you going to say?

Hey, all two ice cream cones.

You better than one.

This was a sweet one last year.

We got to get this shot up.

I'm just proud of the group.

They hung in there.

David had to do a great job.

Great job.

You came out in the second half.

You said you had to make some adjustments.

Well, like I say, we the first half was we jumped on them, but we started making turnovers near the end of the first half and we needed to take care of the basketball better.

Don't put too much.

We did.

We made a few adjustments with the defense also.

So when you feel like adjustment, we may pay it off a coach.

Congrats.

Appreciate it.

Go celebrate with your team.

The.

All right, there you have it.

Taylor County, your champion, 62 to 50, the final.

They won it for the second year in a row.

Take your hats off to the Claxton Tigers.

Unbelievable.

The effort there.

They came back, fought hard all night long.

But in the end, the Vikings put it together and ran away with it.

A championship play.

If you have any kind of lulls that Claxton had one low in the first quarter and a little bit of a lull in the third, which kind of put him behind the eight ball there.

But you got to tip your hat off.

They fought the whole way.

All right.

Well, there you have it.

Taylor County, your chance and throw it back to the studio.

Jim standing by to let you go.

And there you have it.

Taylor County wins it, 62 to 50 over the Claxton Tigers, their two time defending champions in single game GP TV's presentation of the GHC Boys State Basketball Championships has been made possible in part by IBEW Local 613, Georgia's Electric Membership Corporation's South Trust Bank and by viewers like you.

Thanks for watching.

Championship Weekend.

We'll roll on with more March Madness for making right after this this.

Well, you funding for broadcast of the GHC Boys and Girls Basketball championships is provided in part by the following.