Georgia Public Broadcasting presents the Georgia High School Association's state basketball championships.

Major funding for this program is made possible in part by Georgia's Electric Membership Corporation, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IBEW Local 613 Atlanta Black Cobia, Georgia's Dodge Dealer, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

And by viewers like you live from the Macon Coliseum, it's the 26 GHC basketball championships.

The girls Tripp boys final, the Avondale Lady, Blue Devils and the Hephzibah Lady Rebels Championship Weekend rolls on here on GPB.

Good evening, everybody, and welcome.

I'm Jim Janaki to game number ten over the to get a two day spin here on GPB.

One more to go after this one taking center stage the triple-A girls it's Hephzibah it's Avondale and the two guys to call it downstairs Dave Garner and Curtis.

Fun guys.

You ready for some more basketball?

Absolutely, Jim.

And we are excited about this matchup right here again, Avondale and Hephzibah coming in here, the defending state champs.

And Curtis, let's talk a little bit about this Avondale team sneaking up on some folks, making it to the state championship game.

They've got a great team.

Yeah, absolutely.

I don't think anyone outside of their community expected them to be here, particularly if it required beating number one do.

But they played great solid sound basketball.

We see them pretty much all year and it got them here.

They've got some great players and there's one right there again, a shot, a walk.

I you see her numbers right there, 15.6 points over three assists, nearly seven steals a game and just a junior.

Yeah she's a very efficient player, very smooth.

A left hander can hit the perimeter, shot a really good, really good free throw shooter as well And she teams with Angelica milian in the backcourt too left handed backcourt players which is a rarity and they're going to look at the supporting cast again meeting Woolcock Hall Holmes and Stroud again Stroud six foot three.

They're certainly a presence in the middle there for coach Marcus Searcy.

Again, Coach Searcy in his seventh season with this Blue Devil program, has done an excellent job in guiding these young ladies to a state championship.

Again, the five Triple A, region 5888 champs this year.

Let's talk a little bit about Hephzibah.

The Lady Rebels, of course, are the defending champs coming in here tonight.

And they have a lot of talent as well.

Yeah, they're led by Portia White, their senior center.

I remember her last year being a real factor in the championship game.

She scored 18 points with ten rebounds against Johnson in the semifinal game.

Just a real force persistent player knows how to play in the post and is an unselfish player.

15 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks there for the senior.

Again, a pretty good starting pretty good surrounded cast as well there with Renato Lopez.

Cami Phillips is really the floor general there Jasmine Judge White of course Morris in the house here tonight.

The starting lineup for the Hephzibah lady rebels again the coach is Wendell Lofton.

Let's go ahead, throw it courtside to our P.A.. ANNOUNCER Eddie Ashley for tonight's introductions, This evening's game will have the Evansdale Blue Devils with our work it out.

26 wins and three losses dressed in blue as your visitors on the scoreboard and the Hephzibah rebels.

What a record of 30 wins and two losses this game.

Why, As your home team have your vision for the starting lineup?

First for Avondale at guard number three, a five foot six junior Angelica Millie at guard number ten, a five foot nine junior shot.

They will guard at forward number 22, a six foot two junior.

Desmond.

at center number 33, a six foot three junior.

Nicole Strong at forward number 45, a five foot seven junior.

Chavez and Evan Dale's head coach, Marcus Searcy.

And now perhaps the ball at guard number five, a five foot six senior reporter, Little birdie at guard number ten, a five foot seven junior.

Patty Phillips at guard number 23, a five foot five sophomore Desmond just at forward, number 45, a five foot 11 senior portion, one at forward number 55, a five foot 11 junior.

Lisa Moras and heps up as head coach Wendell Lofton.

So there you have it, Avondale and Hephzibah squaring off for the triple-A Girls State championship.

When we return stateside.

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Hephzibah set to square off inside the Macon Coliseum.

Let's throw it down to John Nelson, the other member of our team.

John, what's going on?

Well, let's talk about the two head coaches in this game tonight.

You asked each one who the favorite is.

They point to the other guys, starting with Hephzibah and Coach Lofton.

He says he has matchup problems inside and he's even going as far as saying, Lord, help us.

I don't know what we're going to do, going to the other side and having to tell Coach Searcy, he said.

We climbed a mountain playing Kendrick.

We got a bigger mountain tonight.

We got to put on our mountain climbing shoes.

So I don't know if that means that we're overdressed or underdressed.

Back to you guys.

All right, John.

Indeed, it should be a fun contest here tonight as these two go at it Again, the triple-A Girls State Championship.

Hephzibah, the defending champs, come in.

Right.

Number two, Indiana State.

Linda Lofton, the longtime coach, 35 years as a coach there, is certainly put together quite a resume.

Of course, the lady rebels coming up with their first state championships last year.

You see the officials, Jill Poole, Carlos Magee and Tami Woodring.

It's Amendola with the opening possession, though, the three point shot is off the mark by Jasmine ball and they're just looking forward to great game.

These teams, two teams really like to get up and down the floor.

They do.

And it's going to be experience against inexperience and they're remarkably has no seniors on the score, all juniors and sophomores.

Meanwhile, there are six seniors for the champions.

Back on the other end.

Great hustle by jazz.

Jasmine Judge.

There they are, sophomore third behind, knocked out all the way there again, Avondale does have a lot of size six, six foot three, six foot four when you look down their roster.

And as as John just alluded to, that's often mentioned that could possibly jobs later on.

Evidently Avondale is a very balanced team, has great perimeter shooting and it has the big girls inside the post up to create havoc inside 30th year at Hephzibah 629 wins for coach Wendell Austin.

An unbelievable walk right there and nice confidence shot for Nicole Stroud and that's what we're talking about.

The big six three Junior is certainly a key player down low for Avondale.

And Hephzibah has a tendency to fall behind early in some games there.

They fall behind here tonight against a bigger lineup.

They could be in trouble.

There's a big block right there who has is going to have to figure out how to play Stroud, whether the front her with weakside help or to let her catch it and then double team here immediately.

Marcus Searcy, the head coach, seven years at Avondale Lady one in 34 record overall there has done an excellent job with these Lady Blue Devils.

That's the bug in beating Kendrick for last year's state title.

Kendrick, of course, many expected them to be here tonight, but they were knocked out by Avondale last night.

But a very tight ball game, 71 to 69.

And the Blue Devils trying to pull off another upset, if you will, here tonight over the lady rebels to capture the school's first girls basketball state championship.

And Kendrick was knocked out in a very dramatic fashion.

Cami Phillips with an NBA three pointer with 7 seconds left.

But on the other end here, Angelica Mehling number three, Jelly is her nickname.

Good kick out right there.

Three point shot for Chavez.

Holmes And again, Holmes stepping outside that time, knocking one down and it's a five nothing start for Avondale.

Yeah I misspoke earlier.

Cami Phillips key the Winslow Hester with a three pointer over Johnson right about 7 seconds left in that ballgame again the advancing lady nice out of Gainesville that shot off the mark there by force of light and out of bounds.

Back to Avondale.

A little bit of pressure being shown here by the lady rebels early on here have a Dell out to a five nothing start side the first couple of minutes and a whistle in the paint.

The last semifinal for Abbeydale was back in 1989.

They made it to the Elite eight in five.

look at that.

Take another look at that three point shot for this good pass there.

Spot up plenty of time.

No pain in the face.

Most good shooters are going to make that shot shot.

Woolcock at the line here hit on the first sun.

Impressive numbers this year for the junior and she makes it two of two.

One of the amazing things about this year's Abbeydale team, they don't have any senior Sturges.

They're all juniors and sophomores.

May all be the sophomores.

They play a lot in the summer.

As you know, basketball is a year round and you just see development in them every year.

Little discussion here at midcourt and the ball will indeed go to Armidale.

There's and not much to see matter what, but let it go there and out of bounds right back to have a deal situation like that.

If you're not serious, pick it up there and a steal right there on the other end.

Renato Lopez lays it up and in for the winner.

Rebels first points all night He's averaging 12 on the year certainly a player to watch out for Mehling quickly back down on the other end there and a whistle and a foul Middleton isn't fast isn't quick but very clever with the basketball and knows how to negotiate himself around the court and a very, very clever passer.

But as long as you can dump it into Nicole Stroud, they're six foot three.

A lot of times you're going to have success fast Crowd goes to the line there and knocks down the first.

You see her numbers on the year over ten points a game, nine rebounds and seven blocks make it two of two right there from the alive for the goal Stroud and having to seems completely relaxed unfazed by the magnitude of the occasion.

Nice bounce pass right there great move in the lane but a big block by Stroud and into the hands of Jasmine all finally to Mehling they're in and knocked away from behind by Lopez.

So a lot of action here in this first period.

Here's a number for you right here, Curtis You know, we're talking about Stroud and what she brings on her knees.

She had 18 blocks.

Yes, 18 at around two against Monroe area, 11 in the first half.

I think a lot of teams idea is to attack her, to draw fouls.

But she has shown herself to be a smart defender inside 40 contact.

Well after shots and rejecting the three point shot on the way from Danny Phillips off the mark and the rebound for Hall PepsiCo's never lost a first round playoff game at the state level off the mark there.

And the three point shot was Wilcox playing back down on the other end as Lopez, who beats the defenders but can't get the shot to go there picked up by Stroud and now Wilcox will work the other way here and it seems like the champions and all the experience was a little bit more rounded, but above the moment.

And then the young team three point shot from Easley, again averaging right around 14 on the year.

Hold up and hit that one from right behind the probe three point line back on the other end Jasmine Judge answers both teams exchanging threes but it's the lady Blue Devils with a 12 five advantage here.

Analyst Limited thoughts Haven't those having no trouble at all with the full court man to man pressure defense by the champions silly fouls perhaps it was number ten.

Mark Morris the third Searcy right there again Hephzibah three runner up finishes until last year when they capped a perfect season with a win over Kendrick in a game they fell behind early, came back and won.

That's the big finish last season, a perfect 33.

And of course 64 and two over the last two years is remarkable.

But there's a shot by Mehling again through got one to go and she's got five points here in this opening quarter and but has to understand she's left handed.

She loves to go left.

This is thrown here.

You had to cut her off and force her back to the right into some some help coverage and also a shot there to Alisa morris up over the top knocks it down, 14 consecutive wins by at least 15 points during one point in the season, including the first two rounds of the playoffs for Allendale.

There's a takeaway right there by Phillips.

The numbers were against Lopez, so she pulled it back out and Morris again works off the glass.

Wow.

To Lisa morris, the 511 junior.

Impressive agility for a big girl spun away from from the taller defender and then used the glass which we don't see enough of reeling talking off the dribble throws up a tough shot in and out.

That's an impressive handling skills indeed.

You could see that right off the bat.

Whistle on the floor.

Looks like that one will go against Maryland.

that's now Auburn Marshall the sophomore will check in for has the ball along with Larkin.

Yes great Number 35 a 5/10 freshman Marshall a transfer pass certainly provided coach Lofton with some quality minutes this year off the bench off the inbound Great Got tied up in there.

1144 First 10 seconds drives home is getting ball for her first foul that's your second team foul on Harvard elegant a 14 nine advantage for the lady Blue Devils out of the cap county region 5888 Chandler 22 her first third That's an ill advised foul right there by Desmond shooter is behind it three point line you want to go out and contested tested your views certainly not balanced in her to the last three shots Auburn Marshall at the line there nine points on the season two assists four steals for the sophomore.

She'll have another and that could be a three for Marshall And so the lady rebels have worked their way back into this league after falling behind early.

That's just a three point game at 1411.

Hephzibah a team that sometimes does get off to a slow start.

So there's a takeaway right there.

Back on the other end three on Duke pull up shot is short from Lopez kept alive though and Lopez somehow or another dribbles out of trouble for the contact with all their but no foul And that's the chance to score then water possibly tied up right here.

First Elisa morris stepped out that time unable to hit it and back the other way here quickly down on the other end, shot short from Stroud.

And now a whistle and a foul.

you see Lopez right there.

first time Nicole Stroud there.

Foul was just over eagerness after missing the shot.

Does she go?

She should have made running line out there it goes right back player substitutions here by a pair of twins entering the lineup for coach Searcy Rene Thomas, number 14 and Jeanette Thomas number 15.

Both five foot three sophomore is in the lineup here.

And they are very, very good defenders.

They play well together, as you might expect, with sisters.

Very energetic today with the ball in particular will hound you.

And if there's a loose ball, she's bound to come up with it having they'll only dress as out tinsel.

They don't go very deep on the bench there, but everybody contributes.

And there's two more from Stroud, and there is no doubt that six foot three presence inside is certainly going to prove to be a difference.

Somewhere down the road in this ball, there is a three point shot from Jasmine.

Judge her second of the night, big shot right there that brought the lady rebels back within two inside a minute here in the first period.

Wisely, Evansville continues to just pound it into the big player black foul going to be called on.

Alisa morris right there working on Stroud.

Eleanor Edwards, a sophomore, is actually listed an inch taller than Stroud at six four.

great.

Play off the inbound there and Morris got off for a second foul her first year.

That's a result of just aggression.

You know Thomas is a very aggressive player, small player, a short player and that small basher always attacking play three fouls on Morris there Anthony after the line missing on the first there you see Cammie Phillips back of the lineup for Hephzibah Thomas numbers this year again about three points the game they're and unable to hit from the line all that true so 30 seconds left here both teams really up and down the floor here in the early going three point shot from Phillips Is there Sammy Phillips knocking down the tray?

That's the third three pointer of the first quarter for Hephzibah and the Lady Rebels with a one point lead.

Nice little reverse right there, but I wouldn't go for mealing kept alive underneath time winding down here in the first quarter and that will do it for an action packed first quarter here inside the making coliseum.

It's the Hephzibah Lady Rebels 17 and the Avida Lady Blue Devil 16.

We're back with quarter two when we return live on GPB.

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Hephzibah up one on Avondale in this triple-A girls championship.

Let's hear it courtside.

Jon Nelson could spend time in both huddles in between the break are the biggest thing Coach Lofton was saying.

Don't let the big girl get the ball inside.

We all know who he's talking about.

Miss Stroud.

Three blocks already with a lot of her points.

Flip side for the Lady Devils.

Biggest thing Coach Searcy was saying, calm down, You had a big lead.

We're only down one.

We're going to run some set offensive plays and get back on track for the end of this quarter.

So that's how things are going to slip as we head to the next 8 minutes.

All right.

Sounds good, John.

Good philosophy right there as well.

Both teams again, settling down after that first quarter there.

And Curtis, looking forward now, these teams have settled down.

It's a one point game and everything we hoped it would be comfortable was started really slowly down seven zero but since then has outscored Avondale 17 to 9.

So I think they're feeling pretty good about where they are right now.

But the Blue Devils open up the second quarter with the basketball, both teams with a motional semifinal wins last night.

And nice looking ball inside there, too.

Jasmyn Hall, her first field goal of the night at Avondale goes back up one of those lockers idea about not letting the big girl get the ball is a good one.

However, they have to set up a new strategy because the one that they have right now just isn't working.

Shot miss by helps the ball on the other end.

There trying to feed it inside there.

She's proud.

Once again there's really a presence that I don't know you know, she brings so much to the table offensively, but I think defensively, I mean, what she brings I mean, I don't think you can compare anything to that.

Yeah, she's a factor all the way.

There's a three point shots on Auburn Marshall and I tell you what, the lady rebels put together a pretty good three point percentage here in this first half.

They've already knocked down four, which is what they have to do because they can't get much offense offensively inside a nice drive right there by a shot, a walk off by with four points here back on the other end and drew the foul right there again.

First to white working inside wide.

These five two seniors been held out of the scoreboard so far tonight, but she's averaging 50 points a game and it's only a matter of time before she gets going.

33 in her second year.

That would have been a good defensive play except at the last second she released him with the right hand and quarter past the on white missing on the first second one on the way off the back of the iron no good and brought down quickly by a walk on three pushes the floor lays it up on the other and it gets it to go and wow hot day right there turn it on the jets.

I thought for sure she'd have to give that thing up with the defense getting back there.

But she raced to the bucket, won it.

She has deceptive speed.

Doesn't look like she's working too hard, but she's always covering a lot of ground.

Both teams, 50% from beyond the arc here in this first half.

And there's another one to watch right there off the mark by Lopez, this time taken out of the air by kneeling back on the other end and tough shot right there And the foul Wow what a job by Chavez Holmes in that play is just typical with a mentality of having to push the ball to hit home.

She's a smaller defender on her instead of pulling up or holding the ball out.

She just took it right by her to the basket.

DREW the contact, had the concentration to make the basket and then make the free throw the place.

The three point play right there does Holmes, a57 junior and it's a 2520 avenue lead.

Nice little feed in there and a big block.

Jasmine Hall six foot two.

Got her hands on that one.

Those screens, how was it?

Never happened.

There was something else, something very Twin Towers indeed that time.

Wow.

Portia White had some arts on that one to try to get it up over the smaller player there.

Still got it to go.

That one off the back of the iron rims out of there, picked up by white.

It was grounded right there.

Wrong figure under the basket.

No need to dribble the ball.

You told that you took that, you know, at your first basketball practice, if you're big girl, don't dribble in there.

Two little girls will go get it.

Whistle on the floor right there was number ten her first foul on Wilcox first on her and both teams averaging offensively in the sixties that's about 67 points a game this year Abbeydale 62.

And as you see Cassandra Russell, 85, a junior, checking the lineup for the Blue Devils and with without one of those twin towers in here, let's see whether Hephzibah decides to take it to the basket a little more aggressively.

Avondale only allowing 34 points a game this season.

That's the big 40 for both teams likes play defense.

That's typical.

Typically what separates the state championship caliber teams back to back takeaways right there in the shot.

Is there a three point shot for Jasmine Judge, another one play, that's her third of the night already.

She's got nine points back on the other end.

Another bucket for walk off and that's eight for her.

Wow.

At some point, the rebels are going to have to understand he's left handed.

Make her go right.

There is another one judge with another Trey.

And she's got a dozen here in this first half.

Unbelievable.

Back the other way.

Wilcox throws it up pass to top for Russell and out of bounds has to go as countering having those inside attack with lethal outside Austin.

So Avondale certainly not playing like it's their first state final.

All right.

Let's come in here and put together some offense trailing by one.

But both of these teams have gone back and forth here, and it is truly a heavyweight slugfest, if you will, as you see the leading scorers so far here in this first half, full Fox numbers and of course, judge the leader so far for Hephzibah, there's a nice little move inside.

And Jasmine Judge just adds to her total.

You have to wonder how long Stroud is going to sit on the bench.

If she was in there, you can bet she hit him off of that shot.

So it's amazing.

I think, you know, Judge, we're talking about a game full of big girls.

She's only five foot six, a sophomore, and she's leading the way.

And a 32nd timeout will be followed by Avondale.

Wow.

A clinic being put on right here by Jasmine.

Judge knocking down Trey after Trey here and from different parts of the floor.

She's playing around the world here in the first half and she is missing.

I mean, she's taking her time on every shot, squaring up her shoulders.

Nice follow through.

And the results are exactly what she wants.

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And we're back to action after the 32nd timeout called by the Lady Blue Devils, a three point advantage for Hephzibah and Nicole Strauss.

Her rest is over.

Yeah, after a little bit of a run right there again.

Stroud Yeah.

Quickly back into the lineup down low along with Holmes.

There you go.

Look at number 31.

She's right the senior stepping in the lineup for the first time tonight.

The coach Wofford and the lady rebels have slipped has reached the semifinals for the last five years.

Team was on the line out there.

They'll go back the other way and we'll see how long it takes having the other pound in back inside to Nicole Kennedy, about 10 seconds left is brought off the inbound.

How about that?

Where I was wrong.

Yep.

Got a throw it interior.

Somebody may have been.

Hold on.

Looks like that foul is going to be called on Morris.

I was on the ground actually.

Portia like we'll pick up her second and as Brown hits the front end of the one and one again already in the bonus and as you see Stroud here seven points and five blocks already not able to get the roll on The second one, they're in a jump ball for possession arrow to Hephzibah that looked like they were going to get it They haven't dealt with the possession they're always saying when it does belong to the lady rebels they're here and it will indeed be for the basketball.

And I tell you what, folks are fired up here tonight.

They're in the isles.

Great ball game here in this triple-A girls championship.

Good crowd on hand throughout the weekend to watch state championship basketball with a nice look inside right there to force the White beautiful recognition right there by Lopez.

Right Again, the 510 senior off the dribble right here.

And Wolf back with a rare miss here in this first half and back the other way.

That's the but again 22 straight wins coming into tonight, having Dell and they've won 16 straight themselves.

A pair of long streaks win streaks on the line here tonight for both teams to and I tell you what you talk about having to alter your shot a little bit because of the hype over the opposing player.

But Lopez said you had to do it right there.

They're doing the smart thing.

They're not taking it directly to her where she can block it.

They're pulling up for the midrange down, steal by Lopez on the other end, and that one will go back to having it right there.

Last touch by the lady rebels as an eight.

Thomas steps back in the lineup for Avondale.

But what do you think about the Lady Blue Devils and 14 consecutive wins by at least 15 points.

That's quite a run.

And they haven't been letting up one team, that's for sure.

And that's a team without any seniors.

Nice hook shot right there.

Stroud wouldn't quite go on.

And the follow is there.

Stroud with nine points here in this first half, certainly lived up to the hype.

Three point shot on the other end is off the mark this time by Marshall back the other way Mehling he Woolcock puts it up and one Johnny Walcott will go to the line a chance for a three point play.

Just a real heady play by the point guard jelly.

First of all, recognizing that she had a winning person on the way to give a nice pass.

If she could do something with it, she drew the contact, finish the play that's going to be three fouls, two on four slight.

So she's going to have to be careful the rest of the night there and looks like maybe a little confusion along the inside there after the free throw and that's travel.

Now go back to the line after drawing another foul, Holmes really kept it alive by picking up the mystery throw twice.

She got two offensive rebounds, very strong, came in the clean up crowd, knocks down the first two.

Lisa morris back into the lineup for Hephzibah traps here for three of their season double figures here in this first half Jasmyn Hall steps back in for Abbeydale and you see her again the six to JR Webster but of course the representing region three triple play here tonight that's down off the mark by Morris taken down by Holmes back on the other end Neely with a handle on it to kick it inside there and there's home on the receiving end of a nice pass and finishes a simple giving go Holmes quarter on the left elbow passes to the short corner, cut to the basket.

He got a return pass for an easy layup blocked from behind by hall Wow.

And now back on the other end goes Wilcock had the door shot there momentarily.

That's to be able to get back on defense.

It's one of the first times they stop their penetration in going left 22 seconds here in the half a two point game 3634 Avondale on top of Hephzibah Lady Blue Devils right here.

And it looks like a timeout going to be called by Coach Searcy with 14 seconds left.

Probably a good time out here.

He has an opportunity to set up the kind of play that he wants, probably will put Stroud back into the game, pounded into her, let her get a basket or draw a foul.

Well, this game can also be viewed live on the GPB Internet site around the world at WW dot dot org.

Just follow the links to connect to the game.

Every game will be archived and available later on the GPB website as well.

That's w WW dot db dot org and all I know is if I was a player and knew that I was on live TV, I'd love to be able to go back and watch it over and over and over again.

These players will have the opportunity to do that and that's a great feature.

GTV Dawg Did you see the fans that have filled out the Macon Coliseum here tonight?

14 seconds left here in the half a two point advantage for Avondale.

And they have the basketball.

He's got his back end.

Wilcock kicks it out.

That's Holmes with it in the lane puts up a shot off the glass and hits Chavez.

Holmes in double figures right before the half.

And it's a four point Avondale Advantage as we reach the end of the first 16 minutes of play from the Macon Coliseum.

Wow, what a nice job, especially towards the end of that second quarter for Avondale.

As you see Hephzibah walking off the court here, certainly not in panic mode at all.

John Nelson standing by with the leading coach here with Coach Searcy.

Let's talk about that.

First quarter had the big lead, but they came back and got you.

that's typical helps if I mean, if you if you kind of watch them over the course of the playoffs, they might fall behind just like they did last year.

But they're a good team and they're going to come back, you know, And I told the girls that that lead didn't mean anything.

You know, the run the state champions are going to come back.

And that's what they did.

And then you told them at the half break, just basically to calm down, get back settled and everything's fine and you got a four point lead.

Well, you know, if we just calm down and limit the turnovers, basketball is a game in ruins and you got to understand that.

So if we just limit our run by calming down, everything will eventually be okay.

But if we continue to let them get the momentum, we could be down big.

All right, Coach, seriously, for your time, you got a four point lead.

We'll have more from the Macon Cineplex in the Macon Coliseum, the three day girls championship.

We'll talk to some principals when we come back.

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This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, your PBS station on back here at the Macon Coliseum.

Halftime of the Girls triple-A Championship.

Avondale leads Hephzibah 3834 as the championship weekend rolls on here on GPB.

Hello again, everybody, and welcome.

I'm Jim Janaki.

Boy, what a great weekend.

It's been five games yesterday on GPB.

This is game ten total.

Counting Friday and Saturday.

Another game to come up after this one.

It's the triple-A boys game at 845 and we're just having a grand time right here on GPB at halftime, festivities are underway.

We throw it downstairs to Jon Nelson.

Jon, More principals, Well, we're in the doctor's office and we're in the principal's office.

We're doing two things at once.

Doctor.

We didn't have Hephzibah.

She's been here before, so.

Hang on.

Sit tight.

We're going to talk to the new guy who basically said I could call him anything I wanted.

Just don't call him late for supper.

Mike Worthington from Avondale.

The word that.

Good to see it.

The word that you used with me is that a day like this is huge because it's been 1974 since Huge is not the word.

This is probably the greatest experience that we've had in having Dale in 35 to 40 years.

We haven't had a run like this for so long that this is just so excited.

Our school and our community and DeKalb County as a whole.

And you can tell by the by the cheerleaders and by everybody, we're just so proud and so happy to be here.

It is huge.

So let's talk about what the week has been for you guys.

I mean, you talk about how exciting it's been.

I think I was I'll just say I was under ten years old the last time you guys won a championship.

And what's the week been like?

Well, let's put it this way.

The school got behind.

We had a spirit bus yesterday.

We've had a spirit bus faculty coming down today.

Yesterday, the win over Kendrick was perhaps the biggest thing we've had.

The fact that Kendrick was like 89 and won over the last three years, 30 and this year.

So coming in yesterday, our girls and our girls are all juniors, so we have no seniors on this team for that kind of leadership.

Our girls have been together for three years and and it's just I just can't tell you how how important this week has been for us and the excitement that has just blossomed and gone throughout the school.

Okay.

Well, sit tight.

Thanks for hanging with us.

And one last thing.

They are all AP students and they're all qualified already.

There are a lot smarter than I am.

Let's go over here to the other side.

And Dr. No.

So what's new with Dr. Know what's going on it?

Hephzibah Well, each and every day is a great day of learning.

It helps, but tonight it's another great night for a state championship ring one more time.

Looking forward to a win tonight.

This week has been what I'd call controlled hype at our school.

Waves remain focused.

The girls have practiced.

They've set the tone.

It's been a wonderful way.

And you're just you're kind of getting old hat, but it's never really old hat for what's going on.

Talk about, I guess, the legacy that Coach Lofton has had there at the school.

30 years as head coach, 35 overall.

Right.

Coach Lofton is the most dynamic man.

And I often tell him and this is from the heart, that he's taught this principal how to be a principal.

I was a principal many years before I came to Hephzibah, but not in a high school.

And last year was my first year as a high school principal.

Coach Lofton Right there.

Coach and me too.

He's a great man.

He's a spiritual man, and he's a man that believes in the girls and they turn out for him.

Well, thanks for your time, Dr. New principal from Avondale saying we have peace in our time.

Let's send it back to Jim.

Johnny, I've been noticing you've been doing some dance steps during breaks.

You got one for us before we send it back to the desk.

I have no earthly idea what you're talking about.

I disavow any knowledge of anything like that whatsoever.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

I'm no Fred Astaire at all.

I understand.

Okay, let's throw it back down to Dave Gardner and Curtis Bowen.

Hey, guys.

Hey, what's going on there?

And, you know, John's over there.

Dance and don't.

Don't let him for you.

He's over there along that base line to get and go in there.

But it's back here.

And, you know, Curtis looking at that first half really back and forth.

Great first half really for both teams as we take a look at the highlights.

I mean, we're going to see right here players really hitting it from outside as well.

That was Holmes earlier, this jelly for three great entry pass right there for a layup and there's a good passing team and there's Walcott going left for a layup which he did many many times and then has to go with a three point shooting display by Jasmine Good Four threes He's time she took their time and hit nothing but net most of the time he was on the money in that first half, finishing it up with 14 points as you see the stats right there again field goals 14 of 25 for Abbeydale 13 of 32.

Therefore, I have slipped on that first African three point field goals 50% for the lady rebels Allendale two of five as well there free throw line rebound turnovers of course points in the paint Big four Abigail Stroud 11 points as we talked about there and indeed a big first half for the Lady Blue Devils.

Let's go back to John Nelson.

John Thanks Dave here with Coach Lofton.

Get the other side of the story outside shooting is keeping you in this one.

That's correct.

We can't take it inside because every time we go inside, they block it.

So we're going to have to shoot from outside.

That's the only way we can get the job done.

And we're going to have to stop the penetration from number ten and number three.

And that was the other thing that you had also talked about.

You didn't want the post players to get the basketball to create the damage that they were, to give them that big lead, even though you did fight back.

We're fighting back right now.

Yeah.

As I speak to you, we're fighting back, you know, mentally fighting back.

We'll be all right.

No, we'll be all right.

We're going we're going to be running the ball just a little bit faster than.

We've been doing we're not pushing as hard.

We should be pushing it right now.

All right, Coach Lofton, thanks for your time.

Good luck.

The second 16 minutes, we will come back to the Macon Cineplex in the Macon Coliseum.

When we return for the second half of the girls triple-A championship.

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This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, your PBS station, and welcome back to the Macon Coliseum.

Again, Avondale up by 438 to 34 over seven.

This triple-A girls state championship.

Dave Garner, Curtis Bond with you.

John Nelson, courtside with us tonight as we get set to rock and roll here.

And Curtis, looking forward to the great second half Avondale closing out the half on a ten run.

And that's why they're up four.

Indeed.

And it coincided with the Stroud coming back into the game after that brief wrist display and smart basketball going into it.

The most dominant player inside against the smaller team and then being really aggressive, attacking the basket, which are your talented two guards, very blue devils outscoring the lady rebels 22 to 17 in that second quarter, a three point shot off the mark kept alive, though, by Jasmine Hall and Abbeydale really trying to use that size to their advantage inside there.

And once like we talked about with Hephzibah, was they couldn't really fall behind early because of the matchup problems that Avondale poses with their size.

Although, of course, the lineup was a little success inside.

Nice quick spin move right there by actually looking at Drayton, who started the second half.

But then you're wearing number 35 there.

I got 35 and 45 confused there.

The fourth is in the lineup right now.

That's from home off the mark there and taken down three point game here.

Here it goes like to say he's going to push the tempo more which is a way to offset the size disadvantage three point shot from a corner is there to find who other than Jasmine judge what a clinic she has put on here tonight.

You think after what she did in the first half, Evan, that would have a bull's eye on her back, making sure that she had no open looks.

But there she was again inside, an all shot on goal.

That's the second one she's had rim out of there.

Nice hustle by Mehling.

But the ball is out of bounds.

And back to Hephzibah again.

Coach Marcus Searcy pretty pleased, I think, with what he saw in the first half from his ladies.

He talked about them calming down, very excited about the occasion.

And I think even though they may have been a little erratic to him, he knows his team better than anyone.

They certainly played well, well enough to have a lead at the half Nice ball movement right here by Hephzibah, another three point shot.

It is off the mark from Lopez, though, but that's they will get it back three point shot off the mark that time by Phillips It's amazing how open these ladies are after shooting so well in the first half I'm surprised I haven't though perimeter defense is in better Martindale kicks it out here's Holmes three point shot is there he is just been solid in every way rebounding scrapping inside the loose ball and then hitting the open shot.

13 points for Chavez.

Holmes In these games, you always talk about the star players.

It is always another player, a complementary player who comes up and he makes a big difference.

One thing that jumped out at halftime there with John interviewing the principal there was the fact that all of these young ladies I'm an avid supporter, AP student.

I think that's from art.

That's a great thing.

And that's the great thing about high school athletics is the purest sports, as far as I'm concerned, is the most rewarding, great spin move.

But then knocked away by Cammie Phillips all five flips, seven slot in that one away right there.

So I guess they epitomize the student athlete, which is what it's all about.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

That one going to be waved off.

It looks like.

I know you've had an opportunity to cover sports at different levels over the years, but I think you actually kind of prefer the high school level.

I do.

I do.

My daughter Gwendolyn is 14 and she's a basketball player at the Cato High School.

So I love the girls game, but I love the purity of the sport.

The kids are innocent.

Obviously the talent is better on the pro level.

There's a lot of pageantry with college at the college level, but there's a pureness in innocence about the high school game that you just you know, the special makes it more special than all of you.

Whistle on the floor right there.

A foul going to go against Hephzibah, who has the most number 23 of her first one on Judge and now Jason Morris.

Well, check in for the lady rebels along with Auburn Marshall and Dwight Phillips.

Take a breather.

Three point shot on the way by Holmes, a rare miss for her from beyond the arc here kneeling thought about it put up a tough shot off the glass it wouldn't go three four opportunities and finally Stroud draws the foul.

He's almost as good hauling in shout at this playing Pass the ball over to the over the rim to each other from her on her first stop.

See it again right there.

The series.

They're not just tall, they're very talented, they're agile, They have good hands, hold hands throughout and they're taking advantage of it here.

You look at Stroud's numbers, 11 points, five blocks here tonight for the junior Miss.

And on the first free throw, that will have another hits It first point of the second half for the goal Stroud Lopez off the dribble launches a three over the backboard.

That's one thing about coach Lofton in the lady rebels he pretty much gives Phillips Lopez and judge they pretty much always have the green light to shoot the basketball with its open indeed but I'm sure he would prefer that three pointers are taken after a few a series of passes as opposed to pull it up and the defense is set.

The pull up jumper right there from Wheeling is short, reeling with five points on the first half.

Tough little drive right there from Lopez didn't get it to go back on the other end kneeling alone momentarily puts it up off the glass right there as judge raced back defensively but couldn't quite get there in time and kneeling for the first field goal in the second half.

Myrlie plays under such control very, very poised.

If there was some nervousness and excitement in the girl's early, it wasn't in her five point advantage.

Grab Adel 4439 three and a half minutes left in the third and another block from behind right there.

Stroud getting a hand on it it looked like and she didn't even leave her feet to do it.

Must be nice to be tall.

I wouldn't know anything about that.

So Wilcox pulls up three point shot off the mark there.

Good shot of all time.

Committed to Georgia Tech A five to end JR we talk about a top here tonight that was good defense that time I have to be forced to go to her right for weakness here in the shot didn't come close.

James we'll talk in double figures.

She's got ten just another division one prospect or signee I guess that we've seen throughout the week.

And we've certainly seen a lot of them, both boys and girls, sides of the floor here.

I it's a true testament to high school basketball in the state of Georgia and how well these programs have really emerged.

And we've seen it a lot of the national tournaments.

They're just you know, the jump ball is amazing.

The talent in Georgia.

Every game you see their division one talent two or three players, perhaps nasty about, nearly take it away rather came in Phillips trying to feed Lisa morris inside they're passing a little bit too DBS good idea and let a little bit too much put a bit of backcourt pressure here Judge working on kneeling Angelica kneeling and jelly in a56 junior turnaround right there off the glass wouldn't go for home and taken down by a force of light.

And that's a strong rebound right there.

FOSTER What about the three?

And that one knocked away by HOLMES It looked like that ball may have been coming out of Morris the same before she let it go.

It looked like she almost shot put that thing and Holmes block that shot what I leave in her under two and a half third quarter and you can see Abdul has extended his defense to a three point line, making them pass it inside, shot off the mark by white and quickly up the floor.

She didn't waste any time getting the ball across man.

Here's Holmes for three no good this time brought down by Phillips Morris trying to get rid of the basketball so trying to kick it into the corner to take it away by Wilcox into the lane right here and knocked away quick hands there by Doug Wilcox.

So tough because she always puts pressure on the defense, always looking to attack get the defense on his heel.

Lopez with four points back of the lineup here for Hephzibah again Avondale beating Kass in the first round in Monroe area.

Carrollton in the quarterfinals.

And of course, that emotional win last night over number one, an undefeated Kendrick, 68, 71, 69.

There's a shot right there by Stroud, which was Google in the second half.

There's always talk about following up an emotional win with another strong effort.

I don't think on the high school level that's an issue, particularly when you have a chance to play for the championship.

nice feet inside that knocked away Jasmine.

wow.

We've seen a lot of big time blocks here tonight at six.

But here's a rarity.

Neither here nor Stroud with seven blocks.

And there's another one right there from Wilcox.

Clemson may have an opportunity now to really attack the basket.

Both Hall and Stroud on the bench getting a breather.

119 left in the third quarter, having led by 11 in the third period last night.

Kendrick came back in that game a little bit, but the Blue Devils hung on Andy Kendrick, their loan loss of the year.

Meanwhile, Hephzibah with a one point win over Johnson last night on a three point shot by Sammy Philip with 7 seconds left and she was quoted as saying that was the biggest shot of her life.

I would think so.

That time right there, Angelica got a little too casual ten second violation, didn't get the ball across half court in time.

Field Goals.

Armadale, 17 of 34.

After the 15 of 43 and that one block today Woolcock she's not even one of the you know the biggest 6263 players and she's got a hand on a couple here in the last minute that's just being active under a minute to play third quarter 4630 97. advantage for fourth ranked Allendale got a little bit short right there kept alive underneath the Kenyan great not able to get it to go there and they get caught for the foul.

She didn't get the basket to go but you saw the big difference without having the Twin Towers in there.

One of the few times Hampshire's actually got an offensive rebound, they had a chance to score in the lane.

I tell you what, I'm pretty impressed with Neely's ball handling ability.

This dribbles through all kinds of traffic and double dribble.

Going to be caught here.

You can credit Jasmine Judge a little bit, trying to get a hand in there on that one.

Number 14, Rene Thomas in the lineup for her twin sister, Jenny, who will take a seat and Rene will come in and help to put on the kind of ball pressure assisted us.

Has a great nose for the ball as you see right here.

Always in the action for the ball movement and judge for another three.

Wow.

Remarkable.

And another one right before the buzzer right there.

A steal and a bucket and Hephzibah falls within two right here.

Closing the gap as we hit the final 8 minutes here inside the Macon Coliseum.

We're back with the fourth and final quarter when we return.

In this girls triple state championship.

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This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, your PBS station, having dealt with a two point advantage over Hephzibah.

As we get set for the fourth and final quarter, let's talk courtside.

Jon Nelson standing by.

Really quick, both huddles with Hephzibah.

Coach Lofton was telling his players ready for diagonal passes.

If you don't have it inside, take it back outside, then shoot it.

Same thing for Coach Searcy, he said At the end of the first, he said, At the end of the third, Calm down.

Everything is fine.

Back to you guys.

All right.

So, again, a two point advantage right here.

So Searcy trying to keep his ladies from Lassie handling the ball right there, though.

And you take a look at the three point field goals and percentages right here again, Avondale, three of ten Heps above eight of 18.

A lot of that, of course, coming from Jasmine, Judge Lopez with that steal and points right at the end of that third quarter.

That's one of the hoop right there And drew the foul Lopez is a very high energy player makes a good head fake he said the finish and took it in there to the big girl through the contact one of the rare times in which offensive affairs attack though Stroud in forced to make a foul blitz now seven points for Lopez at the line here.

He has certainly been blessed with some close games this week in some excellent and exciting high school basketball action right here on GPB and this game is right there with it.

Eight points now for and what are both teams have to do here in order to get over the hump?

Well, first of all, as we're going to see any kind of nerves that are proud to be on having this great young team hadn't been here before.

Hence it was for the last seven points.

And it's missing the opportunity to repeat as champions.

Having dealt with the basketball and dealing with it work.

And what a drive right there.

Shot too strong though taken down by Phillips Judge pushes back the other way and blocked from behind there by Stroud everything up and coming up a little bit later on tonight again the triple A boys contest between Westlake and Dunwoody.

And that one promises to be another shootout.

yeah.

These guys have gone at it two times already this year with Westlake winning both of those games.

So look for a big, big outing tonight.

Three point shot off the mark from Phillips, taking right back to one hustle.

I tell you what the lady rebels are starting to get after it a little bit more defensively.

The fourth quarter came in.

It seems like they have gotten even more energized.

They're playing with a lot more zest, moving the ball a lot better and attacking better.

And now it's taken away right there.

And I'm feeling will set it up for Avondale.

We're tied up 46 all here and a nice shot right there by Jasmine Hall.

And a full timeout going to be called by coach Marcus Searcy and the Lady Blue Devils who go back up by two.

And you can start to feel it here first, You know, getting into this fourth quarter time ball game, two point game crowd's getting a little bit louder, the tempo starting to pick up a little bit more.

And I think we're in for quite a quite a fight, a good one down the stretch.

Three quarters of action didn't decide who won the game.

And so it's coming down really now to this last 624 and they're holding a two point cushion.

And I think that Hezbollah's idea is to attack, attack, attack and every and every opportunity, take that ball to the basket and kick it out to the open.

Three point shooters.

They've been really successful from outside.

And that's the way to beat this team because they can't score much inside.

Meanwhile, Evan Dale is really just trying to control the tempo be patient and work for a good shot.

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And I'll tell you what, I'm always in front of that TV on Thursday nights during the high school sports season without it out, there's been nicknamed, I guess, the fastest 30 minutes, which is heightens your interest in the game.

I mean, there's so many great stories and in high school sports and sports that show really kind of typifies that joy watching the high school wrestling special there as well.

Of course, wrestling another one of those sports long side basketball this time of year that is certainly picked up in the state of Georgia.

And the level of talent.

Nice work inside there is Lisa morris under 6 minutes to go and Neely had it taken away.

Back on the other end, Philips, Lopez and Offensive back the other way.

That was a good call by the referee.

Lopez extended that left arm to get space and the referee Porter found that only her first foul 14 fouls on the lady rebels and they get to look at it working on Woolcock cover it with eight points tonight Hephzibah a state qualifier 15 of the last 16 years dating back to 1990.

He didn't qualify in 94.

That was it.

Quite a run.

Just perennially quality teams.

Absolutely.

Of course.

Hephzibah Georgia out in the metro Augusta area.

Allendale of course out of the cap county three point shot off the mark there they follow and it's blocked by Nicole Stroud who other mystic out of Gwinnett County has represented rather well over the course of the last two days.

Absolutely.

I think DeKalb County has two or three champions so far in that Augusta area, is represented of Beach County, came in and beaten number one, Team Wheeler and Bobby Boyd.

And Morris goes off the glass this time, eight points for Jason Morris I should say.

All county the river game Yeah the beard from Savannah seven lead changes in this game and it's time after to be called by coach Lindo often Wow crowd really fired up here getting them on their feet for a full time out call by coach Lofton again in the round time coach looking for his second state championship in two years here.

Going to look at having Dale as we take a look here at the blocks from the Lady Blue Devils here tonight.

And there have been several.

We may need more than one timeout to get through all of them.

Just an unbelievable job.

And it hasn't always been Nicole Stroud either.

Jasmine has gotten her hands on several shot walk back as well and just a very product design underneath for the big girls.

And if you watch those highlights, the discipline they had the hands up before the play, even when it was your shot.

So you are already in position to block the step.

So a two point head to the lead right now, Lady Rebels on top, both teams again coming off of games last night for emotional games that came down to the wire.

Hephzibah you never know.

It could be coming right down to a last second shot for either team here.

Woolcock at 25 points.

Stroud staying a little bit of foul trouble last night in that game against Kendrick.

And that almost caught up to him there a little bit but so far so good tonight for the lady Blue Devils that went through at the hands of white back the other way.

And he just had to pick it up all the way in the back backboard.

Holmes has been very active with a pass inside their little contact today, Thomas pulls up, unable to hit the shot.

Kept alive though, and nearly a chance for a three point play there by Stroud.

But she will go to the line that's the has done a much better job in the nine out in that position but she's still getting her shots through offensive rebounding knocks down the first one I see her totals tonight 15 points eight blocks each.

So 16 points for Nicole Stroud.

And this is all tied up 50 apiece as number 14, Rene Thomas checks back in quick, lay back down on the other end.

Neither team really wasting any time getting up and down the floor.

This post issue with the twins in the backcourt.

Go a little more speed and quickness swung it out there trying to get it over to Morris.

The ball got away from there and he'll go right back to have a and you can see what coach is doing now.

He's bringing in his big players, taking out the little player.

So he's been offense defense here and you look at Coach Searcy looking on for near turnover right there judge has been all over the place, not only from the arc but defensively reeling.

So he sets the offense up top trying to feed it inside there.

Stroud start off the mark taken down by Lopez Now that was a really, really powerful rebound by a much smaller player hauling it back.

Lopez just will not give it up three point shot.

That one was partially tipped.

It looked like Lopez trying to squeeze it off there from the corner and these two teams right here trying to find any threes, any advantage they can get on each other.

And they're sort of at a stalemate right now.

There is no advantage 52, 53 and a half to go here.

Anybody is game inside the make it center flex here tonight.

And it's triple A girls championship.

And as you see, Woolcock probably would go back to the line here for third teams this Sam Phillips picking up the third foul tonight.

Thomas got to look at Rene Thomas 14 both in the lineup right now the walk off numbers here tonight.

Again, ten points, two rebounds, knocks it down right there.

So 51, 51 point, having to lead back on the other end here.

Nearly tall on the pass and that one swatted away right here taken away Stroud and taken right back in and blocked away.

We've seen a lot of sequences like that tonight.

First with Demus steal it come right back in and the other team swats it away A lot of action a lot of active players.

Rene Thomas made the steal himself he got it right back in Stroud rejected the notion of a basket inside.

It's nine blocks for Nicole Stroud on the night working this one, trying to work it back in here a little bit with the ball great ball movement, three point shot walk, flight, go first for why it had to position another block.

That one goes off the glass.

Morris draws the foul.

Wow.

Earlier inside that shoot the ball he has to move right in Delisi decided.

You know what I'm going to pass it out rather than take a shot and get it ejected.

You see Morris hit the deck right there.

She's at the line here trying to tie it up and does so well for nine point.

And if you look at Alisa morris, the 511 junior, it's about a lead ten points for Alisa morris and have something to let them through.

They got a little bit of size themselves there inside.

Do they do?

And I think they're playing a lot smarter in how they defend Scout inside.

233 on the clock here.

An interesting number this week in six of the ten number one seeds failed to qualify for the championship game this weekend says lot about the competition in each of the classifications says everything about the competition.

Butler nearly got away nearly pulled away, scramble loose ball on the floor picked up by Phillips and a foul.

I tell you what I mean, both teams are just playing identical games.

It seems like you hear that cliche once he won it more than the other.

I think that's hogwash in general.

And certainly in this case, you can see both teams are so determined, so desperate to win that play right there may sum it up altogether, an intentional foul called right there, too.

And you saw how to reach the ground, grab the legs a little bit.

And so Phillips at the line here with no opposition Hephzibah shooting a pair and the basketball Phillips one of two on that so it's a two point lady rebel advantage here and now Phillips will inbound from midcourt to be very important to 222 to go to score here and that's a three point possession or two 3 to 4 point possession forms picking up for a third foul for Abbeydale will come out of the lineup.

Right now.

Big lineup in there though, with dazzling ball and the goal crowd going out nobody there just not a fundamental pass at this stage in the game you have to make good solid passes in that time Doug try to whip on one hand pass in traffic and it got away from those two often not liking that trying to settle them down here a little bit.

Morris will take a seat.

Coach Searcy calm and cool right here as we near the two minute mark, outwardly, inwardly, I'm sure that is who's full back with the basketball takes it all the way and they'll learn a trip to the line.

He hasn't been converting those drives.

He was in the first half.

I think there was some discussion.

Coach Lofton talked about it at halftime to stop the penetration of her and jelly in my stomach.

If you don't stop the penetration, then send them to the foul line.

Don't let them get easy layups.

This this is only the first 16 game winning streak for Avondale coming into the state championship game.

Meanwhile, Hephzibah, winners of 22 straight have only lost twice on the year.

Of course, a perfect 33 and and 2005, capturing the state title as Woodcock knocks down the free throw.

And we've got a timeout on the floor here with 204 left in the contest and it's a one point lead for Hephzibah over Avida What a game for this triple AA girls championship.

Well, don't miss the GPB original production.

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Everyone I know who's been in raved about it.

The forward of that program again, March 14th, right here, 8 p.m. EDT.

Owners this certainly don't want to miss this one right here.

We got quite a bowl game and one more to go later on this evening in the form of the triple-A Boys Championship.

So right now it's a one point game here in this triple-A girls contest.

Hephzibah, the defending state champs out of Region three, taking on the region five champs, Avondale.

Athena, of course, knocked off number one Kendrick, last night.

And you see the time out story and the fouls here.

One more 60 for Avondale, 17,000 for Hephzibah have never known the situation right here with that pretty much at the line the rest of the way on any stuck with a one point lead has to go is going to be very lucky to shoot.

So take a time to be patient BLOCK Right there by Stroud and it's Avondale basketball trailing by one as we hit the 133 mark of the ballgame.

The rebels weren't patient enough to stop by.

Stroud was short, followed, her own shot too strong.

The put back is there by Jasmine Hall, who had positions like this inside might impose in his will.

Right.

Do back on the other end block from behind.

It looks like another opportunity, just like trying to pound it in their back on the other end, having do with the numbers and the shot is up and in for Holmes Chavez Holmes the junior with 15 and it's a three Avondale lead.

This game has gone back and forth.

I haven't seen this many lead changes since the Daytona 500, which obviously is a huge possession.

Only 45 seconds left in the game.

Back on the other end, Hephzibah trying to work it inside and having no does not have to sit here, doesn't have to score just intensity.

It needs to foul.

33 seconds left, Stroud underneath knocked away from behind the whistle back on the other end Phillips all alone with Wilcox trailing knocks it away.

And how big is that?

What a hustle play.

We saw something like that in the NBA a couple of years ago when they shot, ran down Reggie Miller to block his shot to save a game in here.

Wilcox hustling back, knocking down about 25 seconds left taps that gets it in trailing by 33. shot no good taken down by Crowder WHISTLE and back on the other end Stroud will go to the line eight of ten at the line tonight for 15 And that's Scotty's bomb right there The stands cheering on the lady blue devils here and her daughter who's got a dozen throughout again 80% as we talked about tonight from the line needs to make at least one here the start 16 looking to add to that make it 17 right here and it makes it a two possession game with 16 seconds left.

That's some impressive shooting from the foul line.

As a big girl, the biggest ball on the court, she inevitably is going to get fouled and then it's going to come down to being able to make the free throws.

And she's done that.

But nine of nine of 11 to this point, not exactly one right there, but Ball kept it alive.

Still going.

There is a whistle and there's 12 seconds left.

And back at the line, go the lady Blue Devils.

Do they have enough for a one more upset?

Georgia State championship on the line here.

Still 12 seconds left, but it is a two possession game here is all goes to line to six points tonight.

Five rebounds she hits on the first.

What a ball game here tonight.

Unbelievable.

Really impressive.

You consider that they have no seniors even if they somehow miraculously did not win this game.

We know who will be the preseason number one team going into next year.

Hephzibah, of course, a state runner up three times under coach Linda Lofton, of course, won it last year and that should about do it.

10 seconds left on the other end, three point shot from way three games in and out of their course alive with the follow it.

Don't go 2 seconds, 101 second on the clock with Avondale is going to get out of here with a state championship.

The lady Blue Devils from the Cap County can feel it now.

Three point shot at the buzzer won't go for a low passer.

That'll do it.

Avondale is your 2006 triple girls state champion.

What a game that went back and forth throughout the night.

Take your hats off to the Lady Rebels.

Of course, Hephzibah, the defending state champs, came in here.

Both teams really doing everything right.

And their power to win this game.

And you can't fault the effort of either team here tonight.

It's an unbelievable showcase of some great high school basketball talent.

Absolutely.

Henshilwood did not give away championship, having won it.

Well, go ahead, step aside.

Jim Tanaka will bring us back with reaction and more from the Macon Coliseum when we return.

Shaka.

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This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, your PBS station on back here at the Macon Coliseum?

Yes, it's Avondale, The champ hands up triple-A.

They beat Hephzibah 59 to 53.

Let's go downstairs to John Nelson yelling now.

Yes.

You see who has the trophy?

First thing he did is he got a hug from his principal.

He's like, I did it.

And, you know, let's talk about this.

Okay.

And now let's talk about this.

Win a little bit.

Okay?

Okay.

Talk about that fourth quarter and how much of a hair puller it was for you.

Wow.

man.

What?

What?

I mean, right now we're two cardiac kids.

I mean, but one thing I will give to you guys, there is no fight.

There is no give up.

It's all fight.

The girls play with heart.

That's the only thing I can ask for.

And one thing about it I trust them.

They trust me.

And I tell them to calm down, work hard, and we never give up.

I mean, when we got a flagrant foul, I said, my goodness, I didn't know.

But we hung together.

We stuck together and we pulled through together.

And you did pull through first title in anything since 1974.

If you had a free hand, I'd shake it.

Marcus Searcy is a state championship.

Back to you.

That's why I love you.

Obviously, you said the great points for John Nelson, for Curtis Bond, for Dave gone, Ron Johnson.

I feel thanks for watching the girls triple championship Boys triple-A championship is coming up next on GPB.

So long, everybody.

This brought this broadcast to the Georgia High School Association.

State basketball championships has been made possible in part by Georgia's Electric Membership Corporation, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IBEW Local 613 Atlanta, Wachovia.

Georgia's Dodge Dealers.

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And by viewers like you.