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Live from the Macon Coliseum, it's the 2006 GHC basketball championships featuring the double leg finale between the girls, Greater Atlanta Christian Spartans and the Wesleyan Wolves.

And good afternoon, everybody, and welcome.

As championship weekend rolls on here on GPB, a couple of private schools from Gwinnett County going for all the marbles in this one.

GHC won championships in 2001 and 2000 to Wesleyan, the two time defending champs.

It should be a great one, two guys to call it for you Courtside.

Dave Gardner and Curtis buddies.

All right, Thanks, Jim.

Alongside a man that knows a little something about basketball, the state of Georgia, especially around the Atlanta area.

Curtis Bond.

Curtis, thanks for being with us.

I'll tell you what, looking forward to a great matchup today between two teams that know a little something about each other.

Absolutely.

And it's always my pleasure to be here.

It should be a good game.

The teams know each other so well and I think the onus is on truck to break through.

They lost three straight times this year to this team and it's going to have to make some changes in order to come out on top.

Let's talk a little bit about the Lady Spartans.

They come in here.

They've got a lot of weapons, but one in particular is the Nate Daniels.

Is she the new the vibrant young lady transferred from Miami?

She leaves the team is for major categories, but she's got to stay out of foul trouble in order to be effective today.

There you see her numbers, 15 points a game this year, eight rebounds a little over a steal per game there for the junior has had a great year and has really led the way for GSC in the in the postseason there.

And of course they have a great lineup a great supporting cast that we'll talk about as well.

Now let's turn the tables a little bit and talk about the Wesleyan Lady Wolves, a team looking for their third straight state championship.

They've got a lot of weapons on their side as well.

They do.

This environment is so familiar to them, it's just a piece of cake for them.

They're going to come out and play the way that they play.

Leyla Lesser is the complementary big person inside who's really going to be a factor.

We know that Wesson is charged by their guard play, the Whitney sisters in particular, but she has to be that aspect factor rebounding, playing big defense and not letting people get behind her in their full court pressure that they're going to apply.

All right.

Well, it's time now to throw it courtside for today's introductions.

Mr. Eddie Ashley joining us with it this afternoon's game will have the greater Atlanta Christian Spartans with a record of 25 wins and seven losses.

Dressed in red as your visitors on the scoreboard and the Wesleyan Wolves with a record of 29 wins and three losses.

Dressed in white as your home team and have your attention for the starting lineup.

First for Greater Atlanta Christian at forward number ten are five foot nine junior Julio Steve on a guard, number 21, a five foot eight junior gourmet bedroom at guard number 15, a five foot seven junior tiara Swan Yay At forward number 25, a five foot eight senior Courtney Samuels at guard number 14, a five foot five senior Sally Carroll and Greater Atlanta Pistons head coach Mike Mitchell.

how.

And now for Wesleyan at door number two, a five foot eight senior Elise Whitney at guard number four, a five foot eight senior, Caroline Whitney at guard number five, a five foot five junior, Kelly Hall at forward number 21, a five foot 11 senior lay lay low.

Sure.

At center number 32, a six foot one junior, Sarah and Wesley as head coach Jan Azar.

So there you have it.

The stage is set.

It's CAC and Wesleyan for the Double-A Girls State championship.

When we return here.

Let's get started.

Let's get it started.

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This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, your PBS station on Greater Atlanta Christian and Wesleyan set to tip for a title.

John Nelsons, the other member of our team today, he's standing by courtside.

John.

Dave, let's talk about numerology for those of you into it.

This game is brought to you by the number four of the two schools, a 20 minute drive apart.

Jack You going for their eighth title?

Wesley In the third in their last four.

The last time.

Wesley And played a team four times in a year and won all four 2002 and they've got a state title playing Jefferson There are no secrets today.

All right, Thanks, John.

Look forward to talking to you throughout the afternoon here and looking forward to a great contest.

Did you see Coach Jan Azar Pretty much started up this program back in 97 as the head coach has done a magnificent job in her ninth year with the Wesleyan program.

Of course, the student body in the house here today from Norcross, both sets of fans making the trip from Norcross today all the way to making the play each other for a title chance for a championship.

You've got to be there to see it.

So here we go again.

Agassi wearing the red today.

Wesleyan, the home team on the right.

And it is the lady Sparks who control the opening tip one year right off the bat driving in there any blocking foul and Curtis that's really what he is going to have to do today is take it right into the heart of that Wesleyan defense.

Absolutely.

If you watched him before the game, there was a lot of laughs.

He will seem very comfortable in this scenario.

In a good start is very important to this team.

We're going to look at here as one year, 7.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and almost three and a half assists on the season as he knocks down the first free throw right there to get gassy on the board against one year five seven junior That foul was on Kelly Hall so he picks up the team first two two for two right there two good start for gassy back on the other end Wesley and of course led by the twin sisters who really run the floor Great pass inside the dunk up and in and run Sarah Delph the sixth one junior making her presence felt early.

That play is typical of what you see out of West and a lot of backdoor cutting and great passing, great finish right there by Dell.

As you see her numbers on the year, nearly nine points a game and completes the three point play and it's a32 Wesleyan advantage and this is where the trouble could come for gassy how it handles the full court Percy coach Azar coming in to the game really wanting to put the pressure on gassy they've really pressed them in the three previous meetings and hoping to do that today but gassy of course, probably working on a few things in the last couple of days to try to break that press.

They know it's coming.

Absolutely.

It did not protect the ball well against Dodd County.

So if you don't do that against this team, you're really going to dig a hole for yourself.

Julio Stephens with the bucket right there.

Her first for the five nine junior.

And it's back and forth here in the opening minute.

Harris Barnes up one here, three hall with the basketball had the door set now takes the shot hits good looking shot just inside the arc sometimes forget about Kelly Hall because we talked so much about the Whitney sisters but she's a stabilizing force also in the backcourt.

Fournier on the drive, kicks it out at Stevens.

The turnaround is there for Danny Daniels, and Daniels has her first points of the afternoon.

And really, she has been the driving force throughout the postseason for Gassy by 17 points in the first round against Oglethorpe County, 22 in round two against Pace Academy.

Continue that presence all the way throughout here in the state championship game.

There's another bucket from Dell.

And I'll tell you what, he's a big body inside Curtis.

That's his classic high low pass out to the perimeter.

Another big girl passes inside to the bigger he post up games in that opposition for an easy let me tell you all this back up one here seven six big ball movement here in the early going just inside the arc that shot off the mark for Daniels kept alive though underneath and Courtney Samuels was in there mixing it up along with Sally Carroll.

And Carroll is the one that ended up with the basketball and drew the foul.

She'll go to the line all rising, return to her first first foul on Delk.

That's the team.

Second, as you see coach Mike Mitchell furious first but right through there, free throws are always important, but particularly when you're an underdog against a good team at the start of the game, we will look at Terrell's numbers 4.1 points on the season, make it two of two right there.

And Carroll puts the Lady Spartans back up on field.

Opening quarter, first 2 minutes in the books, eight seven ballgame and on the drive right there, a little bit short for last year and traveling to be called it will go right back to Wesleyan and they have an injured player under the basket for gassy coach Mitchell out to take a look there again that is Courtney Samuels there.

Maybe being attended to over there along the baseline.

I wasn't sure exactly what happened there.

I'm not sure if she landed awkwardly in there.

Take another look at it right here and you see her backing up and know may have had a little contact there with one of our camera folks.

And that might have been what got her off of her feet there.

But she appears to be okay, of course, gassy with titles in 2001, 2002, as Jim talked about up top, But they've won seven overall dating back to 1972.

And it appears that Samuels is okay.

She will be helped off and will have to be replaced as Bria Smith checks in for the first time today.

There you go.

Look at Samuels numbers, the senior with a big season, almost six points, a game, four rebounds, 2.8 assists.

She may need an ambulance.

She'll be all right.

She looks okay over there.

Shot.

That's Debbie Short right there from Carolyn Whitney.

Right back on the other end.

Go the Lady Sparks trying to feed it inside, knocked away.

And I tell you what, Wesleyan really prides itself on their defense.

Quick hands.

One of the key elements is that their hands are always up.

There's no uncontested passes, three point shot by the big girl drop, but it's off the mark back the other way.

That's Smith kissing the floor kicks it back out.

Daniels is up top on the drive puts up a tough shot won't go she had to alter that shot around Dell big inside presence there made a difference heroine Whitney one of three division one signees on this team and it still works inside of a draw the whistle can't say enough about what she's meant to this program over the last couple of years, not just here in her senior year, but especially after the graduation of players like Sarah Moye and Laura Luckhurst.

The servers really had to step up in that leadership role, and she has answered for coaches.

Absolutely.

And that was an aggressive move right there.

Took it right to Daniels and got their key player for Gassy.

Her first foul of the game Got to hit them at the line though that's before she misses on the first go and the second one is right there So first point of the afternoon for buzzer and they tied up at eight apiece Got a good you see a lot of credit here early at least it is done.

She hasn't shown any nerves, really poise, training really well on both ends of the floor.

Smith dishes it off strong pull up jumper off the mark More good Daniels keeps it alive Put back roll go still fight in there and Stevens had to take it away and then the finish as gassy came out with second and third and even fourth opportunities right here Stevens with her second bucket and some more contact underneath there.

A shot.

Sally Carroll a little slow to get up physical game here inside the first 3 minutes and 20 seconds.

Indeed Stevens on the other end had a big game against Dodge County, 23 points and 12 rebounds.

The lateral rebounds were offensive.

Put banks number 20.

Malia mitchell will come into the lineup to replace Carroll, who will limp over to the bench There.

And as Elise Whitney goes to the line, let's see, this is on her first.

You know, Elise and Carolyn, hard to tell them apart.

It's good.

Then they've got a different number on the family as far as their games go.

Elise is the player who's the defensive stalwart.

And how do you like that right there after a pair of missed free throws, Sarah Delta is there for the Apollo and Lady Wolves come up with two anyway and five back up at ten ABC as you saw Sally Carroll over on the bench a moment ago.

So gassy and appears to be a little bit of a slap there.

I'm not sure if she hit the knee on the floor.

Tough shot right there for Daniels Over the top.

Daniels looks very confident and comfortable going against this defense.

Back on the other end, shot a bit off the mark ball loose and take it out of their balance.

It keeps it alive.

For Wesley of the Lady Wolves reset up top with an inside tough shot off balance right there for Lester but taken down by Alex Whitney.

Now a three point shot short by Doughty follows her own shot, puts it up off the glass and hits and this can be a major problem that you see.

Griffin is being hit to the ball on almost every occasion.

You can not give a team like this in a championship team, three or four opportunities per possession, gassy with back to back losses in the quarter finals over the last two years, making it back here to the state championship game after winning in an ode to big time defense taken away by Elise Whitney.

Right there it was two on two.

She pulls up That's all he pulled The trigger will miss the bucket that will draw the contact from Bria Smith there foul look there because Bria was doing the fundamental thing which was to block her out.

However, she got a little too little too quick.

And pumps are not on the floor for Kelly Hall at the line here, two points here in this first quarter, trying to break a tie ballgame once again, unable to hit and residents had a little bit of trouble here in this first quarter at the strike, which again uses very, very fundamentally sound team, which includes making history.

Do Allison, what you saw is the big senior five foot 11 second in the lineup for Wesleyan.

All second one hits one of two on that stretch.

She's got three on the afternoon.

It's 1312, one point lead for the Lady Wolves.

Courtney Samuels back in the lineup for Gassy after that injury there a while ago.

He put back right there in the follow for Molly Mitchell.

Really surprising how easily gassy is breaking was on the field for pressure and that's something they didn't do very well in the first three meetings with Wesleyan this year.

Folks like you had them make quite a bit.

I'm sure you're going to look at Amari Armstrong, a 511 freshman here.

Coach Azar, go with a little bit more size in the lineup.

That man, some of the bigger girls in there that time warp.

But you saw the crowd out there what was right underneath the a basketball elected not to take the shot if she decided to kick it out the longer gassy hangs around and even leaves this game, the more he should build in his confidence.

Voluntarily taken away by Derrick Daniels on the other end, Whitney trailing the play team up with it.

That's Caroline Whitney pushing the floor.

But if it's shot and blocking, found it to be called on USC.

I tell you what, these witnesses have got real cute and they have a nice blond hair back there.

But they are some tough young lady rocker, aggressively attractive mask no matter that there's a defender in front of her.

She's one of the forces of the tournament and she got to the break ball.

Fans wanting to try their best.

You could see Mitchell's feet moving a little bit.

That's really the difference in the call.

Had she sang of those feet, she might have gotten the call going back the other way there when Whitney at the line here missed her first knocks down the second.

So Wesleyan, about 50% from the line here in this first quarter if that pitfall right there as Mitchell tried to get it in there you can look at coaches are nine years at Wesleyan 207 56 That's quite a winning percentage.

Curtis It is.

She's not used to losing.

And certainly in recent years, if you you're looking at all turn around out there but is going to be called for the travel and we'll go back the other way.

She got tangled up there underneath that Armstrong with the basketball, just a freshman as we talk about five foot 11 and averaging nearly ten points a game on the year, one of the first off the bench for the Lady Vols that were taken away.

Great job defensively by Courtney Sanders.

It's a footrace lost a handle on it.

The turnaround won't go hands up ball possession arrow to Wesleyan.

Not to belabor the point, but she looks really comfortable, really confident, even though it has lost three games to this team.

And we know that they know better than us.

How good Wesleyan is.

Coach Mitchell's numbers against six years at Greater Atlanta, Christian won 42 and 43, also a pretty good winning percentage there, to say the least.

And it doesn't look like he's changed much from the way that they played previously.

Straight up man to man defense this particular the ball a little bit better now and locked away from Armstrong back on the other end Stephens drives puts up a shot it won't go follow follows blocked away from Angelica Wilcox a freshman in the lineup for gassy whistle right there and it goes out of bounds.

All right.

We're going to look at Courtney Samuels, who, as we mentioned, reentered the lineup there after stepping out earlier in the quarter and right back the other way from all of us down.

The 39th grader got a little too happy that time in the open court.

Should have pulled it up right around the top of the key and found a guard to get the ball to Bill Fox again with the basketball there one year nearly had it taken away and a whistle and the five Kelly Hall set to step in here to fall.

That's the first foul on Elise Whitney right there.

You should get a look at any who will take a seat after picking up the foul right there again gassy with 16 fouls here in this first quarter and four for Wesleyan.

So it's been a pretty physical game so far.

It has.

Both teams are attacking and really getting to the foul line and showing that it's time to come out as scheduled.

You love to see players on the floor right there again, tangling for a loose basketball right there, another jump ball call.

And you like to see that these two are going to play each other hard.

There's no doubt so much is on the line.

Every possession matters.

That's why you can't miss free throws.

You can't turn the ball over and you certainly can't let the ball rolling the floor, not get down and try to get it.

Daniels kicks it back out here.

Swansea put up a tough shot, couldn't quite get to a roll.

They're still rolling around and it will stay with see, you know, these two as we talked about as John I mentioned have met now four times this year.

All three of the previous contests going to Wesleyan, but the region championship game is close, is a three point game with Wesleyan able to pull that one out there, that 6259, the final there.

So this is a great heartland Christian, a team that knows they can hang with an afternoon and maybe even in their loss, they gained a level of confidence because the game was so close in there for for the taking.

Samuel a shot off the back here and as you mentioned, as long as this game stays close or as long as they have, the leads are going to get even more and more confidence here.

So far, the pressure hasn't bothered too much.

So there's a takeaway right there and travel going to be called on Samuels.

Then he says great anticipation on defense.

That's twice where he stepped right in through the pass away.

The starter fastbreak the other way did the steal.

Well, both teams are making a lot of adjustments here in this first quarter.

As you see the turnover picture, Game seven visiting that five time all game.

Both teams really scoring at will in the first 3 minutes or so, but since then have calmed down a little bit and there was another one locked away.

They're in the hands of Bria Smith trying to find Stevens inside there.

Samuels, with the shot is off the mark and taken away by Caroline Laettner.

Goodness.

Used it for real.

Well, Cross-court Pass Paul three point shot on the way and hits it Yeah Thomas who was at times he took the time got his feet set squared his shoulders and swished three Haley all with six points here in this first quarter and it's a three point advantage for the Wesleyan Lady Wolves in a little reached and foul out.

They're going to be called on Paul that'll be her second half.

They're so aggressive on defense they will contest every pass every dribble.

And if you drive to the basket, they're going to be two or three women.

Girl crowd converged on her.

Elise Whitney back in the lineup, you got to see Hall taking a seed after picking up her second and I sort of fell off the glass there from Rubio Stevens He knocks it down six points here in the first quarter.

Self.

Stevens is a multi-talented athlete who plays softball also and he's very good at that number 40 Sarah Grace Kate, a six foot three senior in the lineup for gassy as the final seconds tick off the clock here in this first quarter and we've got a good one, folks.

It's Wesleyan 17 GHC 16 As we get set for quarter number two, we'll take a time out and be right back.

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Wesleyan up one 1716 over GHC.

Dave Garner just gone with it.

John Nelson courtside with us and Curtis what a first quarter.

They went back and forth It did It actually was a very well play first quarter, although there were a lot of turnovers, probably 13 between the two teams.

There were turnovers that were forced by aggressive defense.

As you saw Danny Daniels, who had four points in that first quarter.

But Fantasia again, and the Lady Wolves up five one here, the lead swap hands early and it's been back and forth both offense is really scoring at will in the first few minutes.

There's a good looking shot off the glass right there by Alex Whitney left handed shot at that and she is the sister who is not the most talented offensively and the two still averaging right around nine points a game and it's going to be five eight senior right there getting her name in the scorebook for the first time today and a whistle on the floor here.

And a very physical first quarter, too.

Taking a look at the foul story again, there were 17 fouls.

Now and you could look at our officials sports today, Larry Sorrels, Jeff McNichol and Don Marsh.

One.

So Wesleyan now in the bonus, will be at the line here, shooting a one and one.

And that's here.

Adelphi knocks down the front end and dealt with a huge first quarter.

It's right up where she left off.

She's already in double figures with ten.

They're going to look at her season averages right there and knocks down a pair.

And I'm sure that's one thing that coaches are stressed during the timeout was we got to hit these free throws.

Absolutely And then the bonus with a lot of time left 735 before halftime.

So they're going to be shooting a lot of free throw the gas.

He continues his pattern of fouling for pressure right here from Wesley.

And as we expected, the Lady Spartans did a good job in that first quarter of getting it across as they did right there, creating a vantage on the other end there.

And Stevens is hack going up.

That's going to be the second on Elise Whitney from now on for her.

Jessie has found the breaking point in that pressure, which is right in the center near midcourt.

From there, they can shoot two players on either side of the court to advance the basketball.

Stevens at the line knocked down the first one, Bria Smith back in the lineup for Gassy.

Sally Carroll takes a seat here get a look at Smith.

She's really the first player off the bench to coach Mitchell and two of two right there for Stephen.

She's got eight points and she also plays soccer.

In addition to softball and basketball.

Nice look inside there.

Nearly got plus one.

Did Elizabeth really well go to the line right here again a somewhat of a slow scoring quarter for her in that first quarter.

Just one point at the low at the line there, she will return the 45% to 80 fouls on Courtney Samuels.

Take another look at the dish right here.

And we talked about Carolyn Whitney really sees the floor real well.

She's really the floor general out there.

Here She is really, really talented offensively and took talking to coach Dan Hayes all last week She talked about Carolyn played at another school.

She would average 20 or 25 points a game.

She's that talented.

But in this system with this program, she plays a much more of a team game 16 points in the semifinal versus Devon County the other night.

And a surrogate's the roll right here and hits to 4 to 3 for four from the stripe today Back on the other end Stevens on loan puts it up and in once again in the middle of the press is the weak area and gassy has found it really Stevens with ten points here also in his double figures she had 23 in her semifinal game against Dodge County.

And the roll right there for the lady wolves.

Two more.

And right back the other way, it looks like dribbling right along that line there was Bria Smith.

That's unfortunate because she did the right thing, which was pushed the ball out of bounds quickly before Weston could set up his press, got it across half court, and then she just carelessly lost at that time five point advantage for the lady wolves here again, 2520 turnaround a shot would go dunk follows her own shot up at it and Sarah Dell continues to work hard inside and a timeout going to be called a 32nd timeout from coach Mike Mitchell and the Spartans.

They want to talk things over here is Wesleyan builds one of their largest leads of the afternoon here at 2720 and a big first half and a good crowd on hand.

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So after the 32nd time out here, GA see with the basketball coach Mitchell want to talk things over here a little bit before that lead starts to grow into double digits.

Just before he called the timeout, I was about to say it's a dangerous territory right now for gassy and it's going to be called on Terrell and Whitney.

That's probably a good call.

Look like she was leaning into Sonya.

They were a little bit rougher.

And so that's going to be the first on Carolyn Whitney.

I as you get a look at these Spartan faithful in the house here as John talked about, you know, it's funny, you got got two teams that are about 20 minutes apart, both in the Norcross area there and traveling all the way down here to Macon to decide the state championship.

Indeed, all the girls know each other and they all want to beat each other.

But you missed on the front end of the one and one right there and the ball went out of bounds.

So go back to Wesleyan.

Both teams are now in the bonus with me.

If the aggressive nature of the defenses continue, it's going to become a free throw shooting contest.

And yes, he did That capitalized at a point where we really needed two points right now.

Talk about these teams knowing each other was gassy with a win over East Hall in the quarterfinals.

And that win motivated Wesleyan to win their game over the number one ranked team.

Laney, after Wesleyan saw that he was had punched their ticket to making their Wesleyan players were like, we've got to do it now.

You know, the pressure is on us here.

And so they went out and took care of business, went 6246 over a Illini team that we found was certainly capable of being in this game here today.

Pass two tall off the inbound right there for Samuels and Whitney wisely just lets out and go out of bounds and they go right back to Wesleyan.

They the he has excuse me they have he has to maintain his composure right now.

He seems pretty frustrated.

They stuck on 24 a long time to put full court pressure may be taking a toll.

And this is the point where it has to really regroup.

So Jason will call a 32nd timeout right here first score, still the same 27 to 20 in favor of the Lady wolves.

And Coach Azar has had some pretty good luck right here on the GPB broadcast.

She's three and one on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Yeah.

Now I would imagine she's even better than that all the other time.

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So after the wrestling 32nd time out, the Lady Wolves do have the basketball here up by seven, end of the lane right there, shot off the bar from Carolyn Whitley and taken down by Daniels back on the other end too on target.

He's done a great job of really getting the ball up the floor.

And I, I think Coach Mitchell probably was happy to see Coach Azar take that timeout so he can get his team together to a group of girls who I thought would lose some confidence.

The ball movement here by the Spartans and a two point shot for Bria Smith terrific was on the line there.

But Smith knocks down the bucket and that gives USC a little momentum here after this.

All behind seven Mabrey is the reserve who comes off the bench, averaged nine points two year and you need her points productivity today but how about was her on the other end tough drive in traffic gets it to go someone's got to step up to stop that penetration back on the other end again Lady Spartans quickly down there and a whistle inside for 39 to play in the first half 2922 Wesleyan And you see Courtney Samuels there on West Virginia's number two personal best two on a list.

Whitney.

There you can look at Samuels numbers on the year.

The senior averaging almost six points a game, almost four rebounds and right at three assists.

Unable to hit on the first, though, we'll have another second one by Samuels knocks it down for her first point of the afternoon as Helio Stephen steps back in the lineup for Gassy and the shooter.

Samuels will go out and coach Mitchell really talking about his team defensively today felt like a key was to really keep the runs to momentum don't don't give up the big 810 12 point runs to and keep it to six and an answer is when you see the field goal percentage 48 to 44% in favor of the lady wolves back down on the other end and a whistle underneath there.

Tough drive there by Bria Smith, who will earn a chance at the line.

That's just a very athletic and smart play.

She knows it.

She has two players on either side of her.

She puts the ball in front, protected it and drew the foul too.

On Delk, as you see Smith's numbers over nine points.

The game this year knocks down the first under three.

Amari Armstrong, the 511 freshman back in the lineup for Wesleyan.

You were just talking about Bria and her numbers this year.

What she's been asked, really, the first off the bench, Coach Rachel knocks down a pair.

You have to have that firepower coming off the bench to be a competitive team.

So back to a four point game here.

It's 2925 that shot off the mark off the glass kept alive though, by the lady wolves here.

Geralyn Whitley with the basketball dumps it inside.

Great spin.

Move off the glass.

It goes for lesser that's just pure talent On that play they lay starting to warm up quickly.

Back on the other end, Stephen shot short there.

She got into some traffic that was nearly taken away.

Leslie And finally gets it across here and a little pull up jumper is knocked down by Alex Whitney.

A situation right there was one on three.

Fake it.

You go ahead pull up and she may surprise you see because she's not very aggressive offensively normally but she saw the open and took advantage of it and made the midrange shot which is the lost art in this game.

Three and a half to play.

Quarter number two, soft demand by Mitchell and taken down by Armstrong once again as dangerous territory for GHC.

It has to get a spot right here.

Now let me push up to double digits.

That shot right there from Carolyn Whitney wouldn't know.

It did a really good job for her.

She's very talented and probably will have her birth if makes a big difference.

Right now.

She's not been a big offensive factor analyst with a pull up wouldn't go is that one was knocked away by Armstrong Armstrong up and in and the foul Wow and I was just fixing to say for this but I've been impressed with the freshman and what she's been able to do here in this first quarter Looks like one of the lady warriors who were banged up this late in the third on her back, writhing in pain.

I'm not sure if she made contact with her teammate, Armstrong.

Again, Emory, the freshman headed to the aligner to try to complete a three point play is certainly provided some quality minutes, but that's not a good sign right there for Wesleyan.

No, it's not.

She's a glue to the team.

Big inside presence.

Great leader.

We've been through the wars as a senior.

She'll probably be all right.

The Wesleyan, of course, state champs and 0405 trying to make it three in a row.

Also one one back in to force a No.

Three lost in the quarterfinals against totally Innocence.

And of course, the state runner up back in 2001.

So pretty good playoff history over the last five or six years for the lady Wolves.

Indeed, these girls love this environment.

They're very comfortable in it, which is always a big factor when you're playing in the magnitude that they're playing for.

But it seems like a regular game that you have an advantage to serve.

There you see her being helped off the floor, a little bit shaken up.

It takes a lot, though, to keep the senior out of the lineup here.

And you would think so through a smile on her face there.

I think she appears to be okay.

That play was created, though, by the Hustle West, and it is getting all the loose balls.

That was a shot that was missed.

The third was in on the action and ended up in Armstrong's hand for the basket, an opportunity for a three point play.

And there you see her numbers again, like you mentioned, 9.5 points a game this year.

She's only in the ninth grade.

There's a better chance.

You see, she may be about a finish percent.

Exactly.

She's probably still got a little bit of growing to do there and knocks down two beats the three point play because Anne Marie Armstrong, the 11 point deficit right now for gassy 51 left in the quarter.

This right here is Philly's last 251 from the 55 Michel Pope in the lineup for Wesley.

Her first action of the afternoon, along with the number 15, Katie Stutsman, the junior in there as well.

Also Allison senior number ten.

And for the Lady wolves here, that one knocked away.

It's a footrace to the basketball picked back up by Sanders there and now she's got to worry about getting it across will look way out of sorts Right now Daniels is not in the game and that's a big factor as well because her presence three confidence Samuel's being guarded by what Baynes in the lane puts up a tough shot right there had it knocked away by Carolyn Whitney from behind right there a little bit of contact that that's been able to get it across here Pull up jumper three point shot wouldn't try to battle underneath for the ball and a foul her was foul on Michelle thought that's ten team foul so the double bonus the rest of this half for gassy Sarah Grace Baty six three senior will step to the line shooting a pair Anthony Daniels is due to check back in and that's going to be a big thing for Jessie.

They need her off base at this point.

We saw Pat's numbers as she knocks down the first and there's going to check back in along with and Jase are also countering here as well.

So will indeed step back in for those little stats.

Men will go out with that and that makes it two of two right there, again, averaging close to four points a game there.

It's a big pair of free throws that puts the lead back to single digits here at 3627, Big rock right there by eight.

And that's with a six foot three frame.

ODU is making her presence felt because off the inbound right here, a three point shot on the way in it's there for Armstrong.

And how about that freshman Wow great execution and out of bounds play for one side of the court under the basket to be able to pass when she stood up her shoulders which is very important as you say, squishy three point shot on the other end is their first one.

Yeah, you know, the first it's certainly delivered back on the other end, three point shot by Armstrong.

It's nothing new that and Louis Armstrong has been scoring this but this is a big stage right here, the state championship.

You got a lot of upperclassmen on the floor there and lot of younger players are making a big impact here in this first time, she's completely unfazed.

I'm sure the senior leadership has helped keep her calm in her role.

Is what it is off the bench to come in and provide a spark here, here and here and there, but not throughout the entire game.

Caroline Whitney picked up her second foul right there, and that will put Swanny at the line with a minute.

12 on the clock trying to close the gap a bit on that nine point wrestling advantage Paul number five will step in the junior and I just this one is output here today five points per rebounds and gets the wall on the second so six points for here is one year that's an eight point game at 3931 quickly on the other end great looks right there but the pass little to score and coach good handle it kept alive though the end of the quarter ball fake reverse layup and two deep right there take it away and back the other way goes gassy that top three point shot on the way off the mark for Daniels He would try to keep it alive but couldn't do it.

Molly Mitchell in the lineup again for Coach Mitchell and the Lady Spartans also looks like number 23.

Angelica Wilcox will come back in.

A lot of changes right there.

Coach mentioned.

I'm sure he's looking for defense right here and quickness maybe it's been goal of the junior in for Wesleyan both teams doing a lot of subbing here in this first half.

It's a chess match here between Coach Mitchell and Coach Azar the stamina will become a factor.

And I notice you see girls seem to be a little more fatigued in the first half than the Western good under 30 seconds here in the half Wesleyan basketball with an eight point advantage.

Great look inside.

The three just couldn't get the shot to go to a jump ball.

Possession error will stay with Wesley but a great job defensively underneath by the lady Spartans.

Yeah after the initial shot she got a good opportunity.

It may have even gotten fouled with no call but true to her persona, she stuck with it, got the offensive rebound and drew the jump ball.

At least off the inbound this year, matched up against fake defensive footing the size on a little bit time winding down here.

Armstrong, the freshman great dish inside out and in right there to Missouri and that will do for the first half and what a job by the lady wolves to go into the locker room up ten here at 4131 well played first half of Wesley with a little bit of a run there towards the end of that second quarter.

The difference so far and this one, let's throw out courtside with John Nelson here with Coach Azar.

Talk about the first half, the press was working.

JC kind of found it a little bit, but you got it back.

Yeah, we're going to and we need to keep on pressing.

We need to do a better job moving our feet.

So they were getting down the court a little bit too fast for us.

And so that means we're not getting down there quick enough.

And Lilly, she took a shot to the stomach, not the wind knocked out of her.

She's okay.

But let's talk about Ann Marie.

Great.

First half from a freshman.

Fantastic.

That's why you know, her being able to come in for Caroline if she gets in foul trouble is a great bonus for us.

But, you know, we had Caroline Lee saying Kelly on the bench with two fouls.

So now they can come back in.

We'll play second half, right, Coach, thanks for your time.

She's got a lead and she's going to play with a ten point lead for another 16 minutes.

All right.

Thank you, John.

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This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, Your PBS station dedicated to and welcome back to the Macon Coliseum halftime of the girls Double-A championship game Wesleyan Lead and Greater Atlanta Christian 41 to 31 as we roll on and championship weekend here on GPB I'm Jim Pinocchio halftime festivities continue now we go downstairs to Jon Nelson.

Hello Johnny Hey Jim here with Principal Scott Archer, Jesse headmaster Zach Young of the Wesleyan School.

And since he's the veteran, we're going to talk to the rookie first.

What's the week been like for this basketball team there in campus?

Well, it's been an exciting week.

It's been a couple of years since they've been in the state championship.

So they're all very excited, Student bodies excited.

As you can see behind us here, a lot of the student body and parents came out to support the girls today in the game.

But an exciting week with the wins they've had the last couple of games as well.

And this is your first year on the job.

What's it been like experiencing this as the rookie principal?

it's been very exciting.

It's I've been with the school now ten years, but it's been exciting as as principal now to to have a different relationship with the girls and with with the coaches.

So you've been there ten years.

What's it been like seeing the place grow and evolve over that time?

it's been wonderful.

God has blessed our school.

It's we have a wonderful student body, wonderful teaching staff, and it's, I think, the best for the nation.

Okay.

Talk about the best school in the nation.

What's going on there so far?

a lot of great things this year academically, athletically, we've got eight mission trips about to take place on spring break here in three weeks.

Our academic team is in the state championship today, so a lot of good things to happen for our school.

Okay.

Thanks for your time.

Sit tight.

We're going to come over here, talk to the veteran.

What's what's it been like this week at Wesleyan like that?

We pretty much know, but go ahead and talk.

Well, we've been here five out of the last six years in the finals, and that's really been amazing and exciting because it's so hard to get to the finals.

As, you know, one bad game and you're out.

So it's always exciting, but it's kind of like we've been here so many times that we're used to it now.

But that's obviously a good thing to get used to though.

You never mind the drive.

Yeah, it, it really makes a big difference to the school.

We're trying every year, just like GHC is to win the Director's Cup for the best athletic program in our classification.

And winning a state championship helps us a ton.

And of course, Jesse won it last year.

We'd like to win it this year.

And so this game really sort of typifies what the competition that Jesse and Wesley and enter into every time we compete against anything, anything.

And the one thing I notice, there's a lot of construction on campus, a lot of things going on or you got to get around some fences to go to work.

Talk about that a little bit.

We do.

We're building a new art center, 58,000 square foot art center and a new performance gymnasium.

For a long time, people have called our gymnasium the tackle box.

It's very small.

It's about 500.

And when we play GHC, we're glad the fire marshal doesn't show up because it's a packed house.

We're going to have 1500 seats in the new gymnasium and we're going to open next season there.

So it's really going to be exciting and we'll be able to handle the big crowds.

Region eight well represented here.

Headmaster Zach Young of the Wesleyan School.

Good to see it.

And the rookie Scott Harsh.

Jesse, what's in it?

Back to gym for more.

Thank you, Johnny.

It's always good to hear from those two great Gwinnett County schools.

Those private schools are always doing some big things up there in the northern part of Georgia.

Okay, we throw it back courtside now.

Dave Gardner and Curtis Brown.

Hey, guys.

Hey, what's going on?

Jim again here with Curtis.

And looking back at that first half, really back and forth in that first quarter, it was really anybody's game, Wesley, with a little bit of momentum right before the halftime with a ten point lead.

Yeah, I thought great.

Atlanta Christian lost some of his confidence, got frustrated midway through the second quarter and it showed up in the scoreboard.

At that point.

They were down by seven, really struggling offensively and they really took this toll near the end of the quarter.

You're going to look at some of the players from the first half that stuck out.

Sarah dealt with a big first quarter.

There you see a couple back to back buckets, big three point shot there from Kelly Hall pass Wesley how the outside game working in defense also a key there as well you saw the up block nice feed inside there but a big block on the other end there by Sarah Grace great at six foot 33. shot right there from Swan in there.

You going to look at the numbers there in the first half?

Again, field goal percentage, 38% for Jesse, 42 for Wesleyan, three point shots free throws, nine of 14.

They picked it up a little bit at Wesleyan after a slow start there.

12 of 15, though, the lady sparks doing a good job, rebounds, turnovers, they can flip back and forth, their points off a turnover 6 to 4.

So there you have it again.

The first half wrapped up as we look forward to an excellent second half.

They will indeed come down to two teams from Gwinnett County and we'll have it for you coming up against second half on the way right here live on GPB.

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Wesleyan up ten here as we get set for second half.

Action.

John Nelson standing by with a guest John.

Here's Coach Mitchell.

Let's talk about the first half.

You found a way to break the press straight down the middle.

Well, we can attack their their aggressiveness and their press if we do a good job, But we didn't take advantage of all the opportunities we had to put some easy points on the board.

We made some mistakes with it.

So we just got to come out and be a little more consistent with the basketball and turn up the pressure on the defensive side.

Let's talk about foul trouble a little bit for me.

How are you seeing that evolve so far?

Well, I think we're in good shape right now.

We've been a lot worse with them before.

So right now we're in good shape.

Just continue to play smart and good.

After it, we'll say all.

I appreciate your time down ten.

Got some work to do for the next 16 minutes.

Back over to Curtis in days.

All right.

Thanks, John.

And again, you got work cut out indeed, for gassy here, but still very much a basketball game.

They're going to look at Sarah Delk in the first half that she had 13 points, four rebounds for the junior.

And I'll tell you what, six foot one, the good looking athlete, you know, Wesson is driven by his guards, but the big the big girls have really been the major factor in the first half point is that almost all of their points are coming in the paint.

A lot of them weren't put back, so they're taking advantage of their size inside really low.

Stevens with ten points leading the way for gassy in that first half pair rebounds for the junior and some of the big girls indeed making the biggest splash there in that first 16 minutes.

So here we go now underway here in the third quarter of this one.

Again, Wesleyan GSE, double a girls state championship basketball right here on GPB.

They've got it.

Curtis Bond with you.

John Nelson, courtside with us and the Lady Vols with an easy basket on the other end right there in transition Kelly Hall with it that's the least with these on ball pressure probably unmatched in the state in terms of quickness, hands and aggressiveness will reach right here I believe they're going to call that went on for all of us here 33 fouls on Kelly Hall both teams averaging in the sixties throughout the year Wesleyan 67 gassy right at 60 defensively allowing about the same right at 40 points.

There's a good looking shot right there by Courtney Samuels.

The key there was that a good pass came out of the double team.

When you double team, someone's going to be open.

But Wesson does such a great job of getting his hands up that it usually deflects or steals the pass.

Just drive right there.

And going back the other way looks like offensive foul call is Caroline Whitney hit the floor.

We've seen a lot of a lot of girls shaken up throughout this one.

A lot of bodies banging around today like she came down on the right side of her ribs, right on top of the defender.

You see him take a look right there for sure.

That's three on Caroline Whitney in both teams, pretty much hitting the bonus early in the second quarter there in that first half to see Whitney Appears to be all right.

A little banged up there.

She's very tough, as is a sister.

And she'll be back pretty quickly, I'm sure.

Force Wesleyan won in the semifinals over seven down in a game which Coach Azar referred to as ugly as ugly win.

There A lot of turnovers by the lady Wolves there.

You get down to that Final Four and if they look, things get shaken up a little bit today.

Daniels with a bucket for Gassy Nesbitt missing for much of the second quarter.

She kind of slowed down her pace and they're going to need her to pick it up, certainly to have a chance here in the second half.

First semi for greater Atlanta Christian, their 2002 title run first led by Cheryl Baker UGA there as a member of that 2002 championship team at greater Atlanta system What a player she was wow to say the least for only one person to serve and it's two fouls now on lesser coach Mitchell again titles in 2001 in 2002 seven overall for the school so I work in the baseline couldn't get the shot to go let's say last touch by Jackie Buffer with 16 points in the quarter finals against Laney 16 Morgan Scriven in the semifinal match up that shot off the mark by Alex Whitney back on the other end.

It's a footrace and that one is taken away and knocked off the leg.

It looked like they're of Daniels.

So right back to Wesleyan, it's pretty much been back and forth here the first couple of minutes You would then you should have been right there just go right by Carolyn Whitney.

She has three fouls She can't afford to pick over four fouls.

She let Samuels go baseline on her because of that.

So the foul situation has taken away her aggressiveness in games at that point.

Sort of just attacked the basket against a great look inside to down three draws the foul nice pass inside there by lesser we've seen that play before Stephens picking one up there was a runner here for a second it's two fouls on Helio Stevens delicate get at the line unable to hit on the first two as we mentioned with 13 points and four rebounds.

The junior with an excellent first half try to record her name the book here in the second half and won't do it on that trip Backcourt pressure here lady wolves and it is absolutely relentless they just stay on you is their personality is one of them championships and I think that they'll change anytime soon.

Bria Smith handling the basketball being guarded by at least Whitney Junior versus Senior right here.

Stevens with a big first half, as we talk about in double figures with ten feeding an inside to Daniels tough turnaround.

Woodville and a jump off Goff is just an arrow too, as we have seen a lot of jump ball falls here in this ballgame.

And as I mentioned, these two teams going at it.

Yeah, that's indication of two teams that want the basketball.

And so when it's available, you go after afterwards to take another look at the scramble here again.

Swan Yeah, getting tangled up with one of the Whitney sisters, their three point shot on the way off the mark for Armstrong and off the A finger tips off the Lady Wolves there And that freshman I tell you that just got into the game open for three took it no hesitation that shows confidence five foot 11 kind of tall and slender but a great ball handler, too.

Absolutely brilliant.

Lucy with the basketball clever.

A good pass, as we saw at the end of the first half, going to be a star in this game.

Pull up off the glass wouldn't go for Sanders back down on the other end it's two on one and a great look right there up and in for least Whitney middle school girls watching what she did right there was just drove it deeper.

She held on to the dribble as long as possible to the defense committed and then she gave it up to a teammate, Whitney, for a layup textbook basketball, three point shot on the way rims in and out of there for swan ball still loose and the easy bucket right there for Stevens and some more contact right there as Samuels hits the deck there.

Again, she appears to be okay.

Sally Carroll, number 14 went out of the ball game while ago for Gassy.

She looked like she took a knee to her own either.

The report from the bench is that Coach Mitchell said he's a little stiff right now from a first half injury there.

So that's why we haven't seen too much of number 14.

Sally Carroll, again, one of the original starters for Gassy three point shot on the way by downcourt.

It's there.

Sarah Dow continues to impress.

And for a big girl, it seems the battle down low.

She's showing off her range here today.

Left hand would go for a swan Hayes that rolled around that rim kept alive though, and into the hands of Smith who will reset up top.

Now the drive pull up won't get the roll there and it will stay with the Lady Spartans.

And you have your big player like Doug hitting from the three point line.

It really causes trouble.

Three point shot off the side of the board.

They're back on the other end again.

Wesleyan with a numbers advantage.

Three on one shot is up and in right there is Whitney takes it herself that time the defense did not commit to Whitney and so it's got a passing to a player who would have been guarded.

She took it all the way and fundamentally made the basket.

They're laughing.

And that makes us feel it takes it away right there.

And three on one again on the other end, behind the back up for the shot wouldn't go a whistle on the floor there Geralyn Whitney with a great behind the back look Wesley not able to finish it off here Let's take another look at that one.

Wow.

Check it out.

A third try to finish with the left hand and it just rolled out of there.

And that was a play out of necessity.

It wasn't trying to be showy that play me.

That was the best way to get the ball to a teammate.

And so she kicked them out.

Third foul on Molly Mitchell.

And we've got a time out on the floor with 312 left in this third period, a 13 point advantage.

The lady wolves have opened up here in the last couple of possessions.

Gassy has had trouble getting back on defense little bit.

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Absolutely.

I tell you what, at this point, GA sees body language indicates that it is depressed.

A lot of hands on hips.

Not a could be in that timeout.

And if that translated, maybe that play right there with stroke of sand is stepping in getting beaten up today for later on today.

Of course the boys state championship between Thomasville and Dublin and that one coming up today right around 445 and encourage you to stay tuned there.

Of course this the girls championship there you look at the field goal percentage this year not a lot of difference in the second half from the first half but a bucket right there for the Lady Spartans.

Sandy made the play on one in sacrifice her body to get the charger then made aggressive play in the lane for a basket, a big basket.

That's how you want both these teams right here.

They don't they like to go down to pass the ball around for a minute or two.

They like to go down and take shots.

Yeah, very aggressive nature.

Five her.

That's three fouls on Courtney Samuels, by the way, as Delk back to the line and Wesley it had been tearing up the charity stripe today by any means which is fortunate Virginia she because he's kind of kept them around down by 11 still but how about dunks afternoon 16 points four rebounds for the sixth one junior and then three a few minutes ago it was so important because it extends the defense and so now the guards who have more room to operate because now you have to honor her three point shot.

If you're gassy.

Today, Daniels averaging about around 20 points in the postseason this year with the basketball into the lane and blocking fouls going to be called on at least Whitney that should be her third foul.

So far three different lady wins Parker with three fouls here in the second half.

Samuels Tough drive right there too strong off the glass and a foul going to be called right here on Molly Mitchell.

It looks like the Mitchell pleading her case, but to no avail.

And we'll go back the other way to Wesley and that'll be four on Mitchell.

Well, we'll be to play this.

Whitney will take a breather.

There you see Coach Mike Mitchell.

Six seasons, very intense.

I think he understands right now the very critical juncture of the game for his team defensively.

He's going to really have to step up and avoid the layup.

There as this occurs.

And once again, Caroline Whitney with her first field goal of the afternoon as three points.

Little finger roll it looks like right there.

Good Look at John and Allen knocked away right here by LSU defensively back the other way four on to and an easy hoop right there for Delph inside and good guess he does not really get back there is a steal right there and that's her will go to the line and you see Dell has 19 points here and Wesleyan slowly pulling away here in this third quarter.

She needs a timeout desperately and coach Richard will call when indeed full tide out on the floor.

A call by greater Atlanta Christian is the Wesleyan Lady Wolves go up 55 to 39 with a minute, 42 on the clock here in this third period.

Of course, today Daniels was a player that we focused on in the pre game pretty good day so far and a six points there gotten to some foul trouble back of the semifinals there against Dodge County and coach Mitchell we were talking about how intense he is actually for her and she didn't get to play a lot of the second half there because of all the fouls that she had racked up there.

She had three about midway through the second quarter, I believe, there.

And that was sort of a wakeup call for this girl right there.

So Coach Mitchell, I think what he's not hesitant to shake things up a little bit if he has to know and he's trying to shake things up in that huddle right now, she down by 16 is really, really going to be tough for this team to get back against a veteran, two time defending champion, the senior guards senior in the middle and a junior.

Whitney was playing great, I'm sorry, in I see the lady wolves on the bench and dealt dealt absolutely 19 points it John Nelson our courtside guy.

And one thing I love about John is it always has the inside scoop.

He was telling me after a meeting with coach Azar earlier this afternoon that planning on switching things up there if they had to, if the press wasn't working.

But so far the press has been working.

So if things you know, if he's able to come back, it'll be interesting to see what Coach Azar has up his sleeve that will serve with nine points.

There is kind of help Wesley out to a sizable advantage here.

And so they may just stay in that, may just stay in that press.

You know, this is a cumulative effect of the press is making a Jesse Tyler is wearing on their will.

Their determination is frustrating them.

And now you see you just saw the skill of the press and now with the free throw, they just set it up again.

The first two points of the second half for Lilly and it's a 5739 advantage here, an 18 point game now.

And take it away number 33, Lisa Warren, the five eight senior in the lineup for ABC.

For the first time today wrestling actually went to the straight man to man right there the steal creator turnover up and in him one for Lilly was served a baker's dozen today for the senior and a chance for a three point play in reserve Allison what created that play great interior passing I see you didn't play that much put the ball under the basket so her teammates better too or for an easy basket.

Another look at it right here again Smith picking up her third foul and you see the play again in right down in the lane the serve completes the three point play She's got 14 picked it up a lot in that second quarter and has five points here in the second half and points against turnovers right there, Jack, 14 to 6 Wesleyan, seven turnovers, 19 points off of the these turnovers there.

And again, turnovers as we talk about in any sport at any level.

And this was really the number one factor, I guess, between winning and losing.

Absolutely thrives on turnovers.

I mean, the hope, the press a desire for two reasons one, to create tempo, two, to create turnovers or vice versa.

Fourth meeting of the year between these two and a three point shot, good looking shot right there by Bria Smith.

The Lady Spartans need more of that to get back in it.

Yeah, a whole lot more in 40 seconds left in this hand in this quarter.

So certainly an uphill battle now, both games really up and down the floor, though, you would think it was a two point game.

Right now, the way these two are going at it to extend the ability to come back this year.

We talked about the region eight championship was played between these two teams and it was just a three point game 6259 in favor of Wesleyan.

We always talk about, you know, it's hard for a team to beat somebody three times from four times a year, especially on a team with such mettle and such confidence and such poise.

Wesleyan just does not crack when you talk about girls basketball.

The last five or six years, pretty much I have to mention these two in the same breath.

Of course, GHC winning a title in 2002 Wesleyan looking for three in a row here today is to it basically dominated out of region eight Wesleyan loses a like three seniors three key seniors but that's mean that means a lot of young players who are coming back next year.

Sarah Delk just picked up her third foul again.

Yeah, see you off the inbound.

Three point shot.

Wouldn't go for Stevens again.

Really Low Stevens at 23 points to dislodge Doughty in that semifinal matchup and that will do it through three quarters of play in this double a girls state championship.

It's the Wesleyan Lady Wolves with a commanding 6042 lead over their rivals from Norcross Gassy.

We're back with the final 8 minutes of this one.

When we return, live on GPB from the Macon Coliseum.

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Let's go courtside.

John Nelson starting here in the fourth quarter.

Two quick things.

Spent some time in each huddle.

Jack wants to make sure that Wesleyan doesn't spread the floor.

Wesley, on the other hand, is reminding their players to score right now zero zero for the next 8 minutes and no more three pointers allowed for Jack.

Back to you guys.

All right.

For the next 8 minutes, the state championship is on the line there.

Curtis, again, Wesley really pulling ahead here, grabbing the momentum.

And it's been a lot about transition and of course, creating those baskets off of turnovers.

Beasley's had a little bit of trouble getting back defensively here.

That's kind of a wow the lady wolves do really widen the gap here heading into the fourth quarter.

Exactly.

They're being created off turnovers and usually those create those are fast break opportunities.

And one right there inside Danny Daniels and that's what the Lady Spartans need right now.

We saw Sally Carolyn's on the first launch, that three point shot, their course was off the mark there.

Carroll has missed a good bit of the second half after taking a shot and either earlier in the game is back out there right now, though, trying to ignite the fire there again, Daniels unable to hit it right back down on the other end and a big foul from Daniels.

And they always say make sure that he don't allow the chance that having a three point play right there.

And I think is going to make sure that didn't happen if he got back.

But that's just a cardinal sin.

He missed a free throw and then there's a player back, nobody back to defend her.

That's just a breakdown of the gigantic proportions.

Kelly Hall at the line shooting affair with on the first looks like and number 20 Molly Mitchell return of the lineup after picking up four fouls there a while ago and Daniels will take a seat ball connects on both so Hall becomes the third player player to enter double figures today at the other end, that one taken away by at least Jimmy Stephens had it ahead to Carolyn.

Dell able to chase it down offers the foul on Dell and that's four on zero.

I understand her frustration that was a flop.

I take another look at it right here again and what a job by Stephens to really sell that thing one way or the other.

She had those feet planted and that's what you do right there, though some contact leaned back and got the call during the seven minute mark in this one, 6244 in the second, all Gwinnett girls final of the journey.

Of course, Collinsville and South Gwinnett met last night in the five a final in league Happy Gwinnett Arena there and there's a shot right there by Stephens and she's got 14.

What a big night for Stephens of course, following up that 23 point performance the other night against Dodge County of the citizens coming here today in this championship game and delivered.

This is where Wesley will be completely patient tonight.

It was time to do that Pass went away, though.

Bria Smith got hit from behind there.

She hit the deck back on the other end.

That was taken right back by Caroline Whitney.

BUZZER in the lane move right there by surge.

She's got 16 she is equal her output from the last two games against 16 in the semis and 16 in the quarterfinals 16 here today in the state championship shot from outside a three point shot for Stephens.

I'll tell you what, she can't say enough about that young lady and what she's brought to the table today for gassy.

Absolutely.

And it looks like a full time out on the floor going to be followed by Coach Dan Hayes.

Are and Wesley with 546 to play in the ballgame 6448 in favor of Wesleyan to see the lady Spartans.

Now what about the crowd here?

I tell you what, the making Coliseum has been home to high school basketball for many years now and championship action.

And tell you what, it just gets better and better every year, it seems like.

Yes, it's part of March.

You have to come down and watch such great talent every game produces so much emotion.

Kids are into us so much and it means so much these games to the to the families, to the communities.

And so that's why you see such a great set transport every game.

The big crowd on hand.

Again, some earlier action today.

And I tell you what, Southwest Atlanta Christian will have a lot to celebrate.

Of course, girls winning the single-A title over Atkinson County in a game that really came down to the wire, 53 to 45.

And then the game after that was the single-A boys game also won by Southwest Atlanta Christian, 76 to 71 over Winfield Academy.

And that was a great game, too.

That came right out of the end.

A few dunks there that got the folks on their feet and a lot of great action here.

And still plenty more to come later this afternoon live right here on GPB.

Right here we've got 546 to go Double-A girls state championship action fourth meeting of the year between these two and it looks like Angelica Wilcox is a little confused there about what direction she was going there momentarily Wesleyan with the basketball right.

This spread out because it is designed to get a cutter or driving to the basket.

There's a cutter, there's a lay up, and they're there's the basket.

The three with 18 great look from Whitney, Caroline Whitney that is listening is so good enough because everybody can handle the ball.

Everybody can finish around the basket and everyone is a good passer.

So the contact there, no whistle.

Both players thinking it could have gone either way there.

But I think I'd like to quit calling them the Whitney sisters.

We've just have to call him Elise and Carolyn to keep them keep them straight.

They're both players with three fouls too long with Kelly Hall.

Pull up jumper right there.

Good looking shot from Wilcox.

The freshman WHO knocks down her first field goal of the afternoon back on the other end and baseline jumper Wooden Blanco they follow a little bit short and a third opportunity for the third gets it to go and a third not content with 16 points here as she has 20 got a hand on that one right there.

Do you reach in and a two shot foul coming up here for Danny Daniels with his commitment to offensive rebound has really been a force two or three opportunities and usually that third or fourth opportunity they get in the basket or drawing the foul.

19 fouls on Wesleyan as Daniels knocks down the first 117 fouls on gassy and the 20 volley but Mitchell back in the lineup again playing with four fouls now the next Daniels trying to enter double figures and does so with that free throw She's got ten on the afternoon the second lady Spartans, she reached double figures today.

Here you could look at Bria Smith three active in the first half.

The junior and as you mentioned, Curtis Wesleyan.

A little content right here indeed runs the ball naturally and again pretty simple Just lay tough turnaround right there from Alex and what a four follow goes and Wesleyan could do no wrong.

There is 4 minutes left and it might as well be 400 minutes.

Wesleyan just will not relent.

It will continue to play hard.

It will continue to pass the ball well.

So experience so well school, great coaching.

They're just not going to be you're not going to get it'll be a championship today three point shot in and out of there for Swansea and now I whistle inside and another foul looks like on.

Well sir that'll be her fourth 21.

Her whole team now has ten team fouls too.

So double bonus time right here.

Stevens shooting a pair three Stevens a 69% free throw shooter missed on the first drive there as you see Sarah Dell sitting back in the lineup playing with 4000 Look at Stevens numbers 16 points four rebounds for the junior man off the back of the iron right there.

Take it down by Carroll and the and at least on the other hand Paul Allen underneath there had a player go over the top of the back there That was Stevens.

Wow.

I'm impressed that she got off the ground and she really hit her head on the back of the floor there look like.

But she appears to be okay.

Big smile on her face.

pretty good.

One of the press coverage here.

I think a lot of these young ladies going to be taking a hot bath tonight.

We've seen a lot of bodies hit the floor this afternoon.

Not a sure.

Sarah Grace Bate will step into the lineup for Gassy, as you see Kelly Hall's numbers today, ten points and a rebound to go along with that one.

That's the first one to go there.

Hall's had an excellent game today, five five junior.

This is on the second the hall's weakness really at the line there just shot 50% scramble for the ball right there.

The Steelers and again another player there, that's the sir again, getting up a little bit slow and she's still on the floor.

Kelly Hall also very gingerly getting up as well.

They're back.

Take your pick.

All the contact going on in there.

There's no telling what happened in that ball.

Well, we're significant that what she was about 19 points, 3 minutes and 23 seconds left.

The outcome is inevitable, but you wouldn't be able to tell.

They're basing their hustle on that loose ball and that'll be fouls.

On Layla Lesser, who will come out of the lineup, but she will finish with 20 points here.

Fran comes out to a standing ovation from the Wesleyan crowd.

Well, Senior playing her final high school game right here in the state championship and trying to get out of here.

It's another ring.

Well earned acknowledgment.

What a prep career she has had as a member of that Lady Wolves team.

And when you see Mitchell's been in and out of line of playing with four fouls but continues to hammer away here, hits it so 7154 during the three minute mark here in the ballgame.

Alison Ward again the senior wearing number ten playing inside shot.

But now they're taken down by Samuels and then ripped away right back by Caroline Whitney.

How many times has she done that today?

Yeah, release Lisa.

It means such a defensive standout.

It's amazing it's like clockwork is ten points now for Elise Whitney and everything going right for Wesleyan today.

Three point shot on the way short by Swan here and back the other way here with 248.

And really, GMAC didn't change up their game plan much coming in to this ballgame.

It already seen them again three times, as we talked about, of course, played them in the region championship, played a good ball game there.

But again, that pressure catching up with them here a little bit today and doing the Spartans did what it needed to do early, what they needed to do, which was attack in the middle of the press.

They found the weak area advanced, the ball quickly and got open shots.

But that pressure just takes a toll and wears you down.

Listen will not stop pressing you.

They will not stop reaching for the ball and getting the ball.

And eventually a brief frustration and Sarah dealt with a big afternoon Wesleyan against 7354 to 24 left.

And I guess the question is, is it safe to say that Wesleyan is a dynasty?

Well, three in a row, four out of five, it's hard to not.

You know, they have only three seniors leading, although they are key members expect that they'll be formidable once again next year.

And three division one signees as well with the Whitney sisters, three point shot off the mark there from hall post headed to Georgia southern.

It looks like he will serve while headed to Bucknell.

Yeah, you know, all three of them will have fine careers because not only are they talented, but they've been so well coached over the last four years at Wesleyan for Disaster was just tremendous.

You could tell in the way that they execute, the way that the Huskies where they played together, just a championship formula that would serve them well on the next level working that clock right now as we go under a minute and a half here in the ballgame and the lady wolves trying to get out of here and just get it over with and claim another state title, both teams had to travel a ways to do it right down the road from each other.

24.

What a weekend for the city of Norcross with the Five Boys championship.

Of course, to Norcross last night.

And of course these two meeting here from Norcross, as you see number ten, Alison, what the senior coming out of the hole on it for the final time at her prep career as currently, Whitney knocks down the free throw entertaining ballgame.

There's always so much talk about Gwinnett County as a as a force in football.

Thrilling basketball is showing up again.

Absolutely.

There's a Lisa Whitney also coming out of the lineup as well.

Twin sister Caroline at the line, knocks it down and she will come out the lineup as well.

So how about it?

The Whitney sisters playing their final minute here inside the Macon Coliseum and we'll get out of here with another state championship.

Unbelievable number 1284, Courtney Jr into the lineup for Wesleyan youngest number 28, Kirsten white a freshman getting some playing time here.

Great experience again.

I mean they're going to be key members of the team next year and to be able to have played in the championship game is going to be something that they can carry with you.

Sally Carroll with the A bucket right there.

Also Amyris Wilson soon a senior in for Wesleyan as well and Lisa Warren in the lineup for gassy Samuel still in there Wilcox bait and Carroll the fight on the floor for the lady Spartans as the final 30 seconds tick off the clock here and Wesleyan content to just run it down as well it should have this is just a salute to a program that is at the pinnacle as that's a really great coaching staff, great commitment from the kids talent.

But more than that, just effort and heart by the players traveling called right there on Wilson and just 10 seconds left and now some wholesale changes here again AC also with some fresh faces there.

Lauren Hodge the sophomore into the lineup, Heidi Tabor, another sophomore in there, number five, number 50, Jordan Oberman 33, Stephanie Pendleton And number four, Meredith Thomas.

They get all those names in there for you.

Ashley Pope, number 33 and for Wesleyan and the final seconds off the clock here.

And that'll it the Wesleyan Lady Vols out of Norcross and region eight double A have just won their third straight double a girls basketball championship What a job today by coach Dan Azar and the entire coaching staff at Wesleyan and the Lady Wolves who again capture their fourth title and fifth year.

A remarkable job today.

Take your hats off to a tough GMAC squad.

The Spartans came in here, played hard.

As you mentioned, Curtis did what they were supposed to do in the early part of the game, but Wesleyan was to adjust and eventually pull away in this one and a big crowd on hand here to inside to make it coliseum to win and say, we'll be right back.

Jim Janaki will bring us back.

We'll have reaction from the winning coach as well when we return live on GPB.

Jillian.

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Welcome back to the Macon Coliseum.

Wesleyan goes three peat, wins it over Greater Atlanta Christian 75 to 56.

What a weekend for Gwinnett County schools here for the girls championship game.

The both schools worked hard to go through the brackets to the championship game to meet here in Macon.

And now after the game is over, it's on to 75 north and they ride right back to Gwinnett County and enjoy the rest of the school year.

An incredible season for these two Gwinnett County schools.

All right.

Now, time to throw downstairs to John Nelson Johnny.

Thank you, Jim here with Coach Azar.

This never gets old.

It's three in a row and four out of five for you.

How does it feel?

Feels great.

Glad to send the seniors out the right way.

That's what we wanted to do.

Talk about that ponytail power that you've had for the last four years.

Yeah, we need to make sure our younger ones are still learning that.

So we need to make sure we keep that going.

Now talk about it.

You know, third and fourth quarter, it seemed like you just wore down.

Is that fair and accurate?

Yeah, and that's pretty much what we've done all season, the people.

So, you know, I thought JC a a hard game and our girls just came out and wouldn't let him have it.

I think that was the bottom line.

It wasn't the JC did anything wrong.

I think we just got after it.

And you said that now these days coaching is easy for you because you start them in middle school learning this system and then by the time they are here on this level, they've got it all down.

Yeah, I don't know who said that coach is that easy.

So, you know, is it when I've got kids like this though.

It is.

It is fun.

Easy.

I don't know.

But fun.

Yes.

Now, there was talk over on the other end of the table about using a D word.

It's about seven letters long called a dynasty.

What would you say to that?

Yeah, I'd say I hope so.

We've got some.

We want to keep that going.

We'll take that.

Janice, our thanks for your time.

Congratulations.

Another title for Wesley, and she's going to have fun going up 75.

Let's send it back to Jim.

Thank.

All right.

Thanks, Johnny.

The Double-A Boys championship is coming up next here on GPB, the Thomasville Bulldogs and the Dublin Fighting Irish.

That's coming up here in just a few minutes here on for Dave Garner, Curtis Bond, John Nelson, I'm Jim Tanaka.

Thanks for watching.

The Double AA Girls basketball championship right here on GPB.

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