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

Major funding for this program is made possible in part by IBEW Local Number 613 South Trust Bank, Georgia's Electric Membership Corporation, Dodge State Bar, and by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Live from the Macon Coliseum, it's the 2004 GHC.

triple-A Girls Basketball All Championship featuring the Gainesville Red Elephants and the Benton County Lady Rebels.

And good evening, everybody, and welcome as we continue championship weekend here on GPB.

A lot of great games already played.

This is game nine of ten during our two day stretch.

The rebels won in 1999.

State championship.

The Red Elephants won in 2001 and 2003.

So this isn't even here.

What's going to happen with the full story?

You go courtside and stuff like Tenoch and Herb White.

Hey, guys.

Thank you, Jim.

Hi, Stuart Placek along with Herb.

What?

We are bringing you an interesting game, the expected and the unexpected.

And when you talk about the expected Herb, you talk about Tasha Humphries Right.

I don't know how many years we've had her as a player to watch for, I guess because this is her senior year but recognized as one of the best players in the state.

If not the best player in girls basketball, probably in the country.

There you get to look at her operating on a little bit of a bum ankle.

She averages a double double on the year 20 points, ten rebounds, does it all assists and blocks.

We'll have to see how that ankle she heard it late in the game last night.

So we don't know how that's going to work out.

I think it could be a factor.

She might only get 25 tonight.

Here's the starting lineup.

As you can see, a good blend of seniors.

There's three junior and a sophomore wall are in there running the show.

The coach, he's familiar with being here.

When you have Humphrey, she should be here probably for years in the Final Four.

And he has been Coach Hill at the school for 18 years.

What a career.

307 wins, 174 losses.

This is a team that loves to go up and down the court and of course, the one to keep your eye on.

It's her last game as a high school players Tosha Horford, she's not going too far she's going to your alma mater where she hopes to have the career at the Georgia Bulldogs of Herb White.

Then we'll go to the other side and here's Fannin County.

Yeah.

Melissa Roberts One of the people that'll be trying to put the halts on Tasha Humphries Melissa averages a double double on the year 11 points, 11 rebounds and along with her partner, Stephanie Searcy, they're going to have their hands full with Tyler Humphries, both of them about six foot.

So that height will help a little bit against Tasha Humphries.

But this team from way up in the north Georgia mountains, they have played twice this year already and Fannin County's lost both games and when you look at the starting lineup, keep one thing in mind Searcy is coming off an injury.

She had a stress fracture, she had a bad knee.

She's just starting to come around.

But she's going to have to definitely become a factor, especially on the defensive side.

Her element for this team to stay with this Gainesville team, we look at the coach, Johnny Farmer, 23 years at Fannin County.

What a career he has had, too.

They like to slow things down, to talk to the coach.

They'll go seven or eight deep.

He won a title in 93, one in 99.

So this team and this school has had some history as far as winning state titles.

Well, in Gainesville as well, they've been to the Final Four now four straight years.

Yeah, it'll be a fun game to watch.

One teams likes to slow it down.

The other team likes to go inside to their great score.

This this is a this is an amazing fact, too.

And I'll tell you something about Tasha Humphries in a minute that I've never heard another player do.

But before we do that, let's go to our sideline reporter and we send it over to Lisa Wiese.

All right, thanks.

Do now, when you talk about good old fashioned high school rivalries, it doesn't get any better than this.

Now, both coaches told me that this is a rivalry built on respect, respect for each other and respect for each other's top notch program.

And when it comes to girls basketball in the state of Georgia, it doesn't get any better than Fannin County in Gainesville And the past ten years, Gainesville has won three state titles, Fanning County has won two.

Now both these teams will be meeting for the third time this year.

Both times Gainesville walked away with the victory.

I asked coach Johnny Farmer if he was concerned about playing Gainesville again in the state title game.

They said he wouldn't want it any other way as far as what he's going to do differently.

So we're just going to play our same game, keep it close, and hopefully this time we'll come out on top.

Stu, back to you.

All right.

We shall see.

Thank you, Lisa.

So what the player introductions.

Let's get right to it.

Eddie Ashby, with your starting lineups.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Macon, Georgia, and the Class Triple A's girls State Championship Show.

And today's game, we have the Gainesville Red Elephants with a record of 29 and three dressed in red as your visitors on the scoreboard and the Fannin County rebels with a record of 25 and seven dressed in gray as your home team, now have your attention for the starting lineup.

First for Gainesville at forward number five, a five foot eight senior Shamika Shirley at forward number 32 six foot four Senior Tasha Humphrey at center number 34, five foot eight, senior Lauren Miles at guard number 12, the five foot eight junior mid hips on GA, number 23, a five foot ten.

Sophomore Peter Waller and your Gainesville head coach Manson.

He'll and now for your Fannin County rebel and forward number 5a6 foot senior Melissa rubber at forward number 35 foot eight senior Aldon Ecker at center number 40 a six foot one Senior Stephanie Searcy at guard number 13, a five foot seven.

Sophomore Christian painter, guard number 22, a five foot six.

Sophomore Bethany Patterson and your fan County head coach Johnny Farmer.

So get ready, set, pack, relax.

The girls three, a high school basketball championship coming up right after this welcome back to the Class three, a girls high school basketball championships.

There you see the records, Gainesville Red Elephants, 28 and three, Fannin County.

It's quite a nice record, too.

It's 25 and seven.

And one of the great careers I was asking her before the game, because she's so familiar with high school basketball in this state, was a great high school basketball player himself.

Did Tasha Humphrey has she had one of the best careers?

Top five.

Top three.

And you said comparable to anybody?

Yeah, I'd have to say so.

Based on not only individual statistics, but what she's been able to help her team do getting to Final Four four times and winning two of them to do so.

Yeah, a fantastic career.

And I don't know who would be better and she will carry it on to the University of Georgia as the game progresses.

We will see.

There's the coach right now.

Does that tie look familiar to you at all?

I know they're Gainesville, but it looks a little like UGA too, doesn't it?

I can't comment on those type of things.

Of course, our coaches can't take anything out of the table either.

We're ready for the tip off and here we go.

Gainesville controls are in the red ten and county in the white and already an easy hook, often in and surely with an easy layup little token pressure in the back court by Gainesville rebels handling easily.

They will slow it down They go about six or seven feet but because the turnover and Gainesville will push it make sense and we're going to control it see torture with outside six four and she's got the range too.

And one thing you know fan and County did not want to do and they're going to take a timeout right away if he's lost to a team twice already in one year.

You do not want to get off to a bad start.

Unfortunately they're down five zip right away now, tell me if you've ever heard this in the quarterfinals as you watch Tasha shoot the ball in one of the quarterfinal, she scored 27 points in the first half.

Now, that's pretty good, but she scored game, scored 27 points.

He scored them all.

Have you ever heard of anything?

Never heard of that.

But Maya moore scored 25 in the first half.

That lady from Collinsville the other night, who's kind of the heir apparent to Tasha Humphries, a freshman who's going to be for years, probably all state and all-American as well, and understand that we're about 15 years from having a young side tennis competing in girls basketball.

And congratulations.

She's already learned how to shoot and pass.

And guess at six months she really has some range.

Here we go.

The lady rebels try to control it, try to slow down and settle down.

Is her bench in a little early.

You don't want to get down coming towards me, Herbie.

And it'll be, I believe, the Lady Rebels ball.

You thought you call a player last flash back again.

I caught one last night.

I thought it was definitely a charge, but they called the block on me and I don't want to get caught again.

And that's if they take a shot.

That's why Hunter is wearing them.

I'm at courtside tonight just to make sure Gainesville look like they're zoning just a bit.

But nope, that's.

It's a half court trap is what it is.

Yeah, they're zoning out front and the rebels walk it around looking for a good shot and look a little tentative to me.

Yeah, they are tentative and they are feeling the pressure.

You know, they want to get off to a good start and it's five to nothing.

And they are really a little tentative, as you mentioned, need to really get a basket and that'll help a lot go a long way to making them the rest of it.

What would you play against a team twice a season?

Are you less intimidated by someone like Humphries?

That's certainly trying to go up and no good gets a wrong rebound.

We'll bring it out and I'll start back again.

Yeah, I don't think you're intimidated, but you're certainly have a lot of respect.

Long three pointer no good and Meg Henson with the rebound she controls it she runs it for Gainesville and they want to get an open look They want to get it down to Humphries.

And why not?

Because those are the kind of things she can do.

Three point play, wheeling and dealing.

They're going to call the foul there.

She did put the shoulder into it.

Looked like Cersei might have been on the move.

Let's get another look at it right here.

And I think they missed the first foul, though Thompson did put the elbow into the ribs on the first move, but it could have gone the other way on the second part of that play.

And what impresses you about Tasha is how she's six four, but Quick has the skill moves and range.

I mean, I think she'll be a sensational college player, no doubt about that.

Five Nothing.

First quarter girls, three a state championship against the ice that is due to be broken.

That is Patterson, Bethany Patterson, the sophomore guard breaking the ice for the lady rebels.

Yeah.

Big basket there for the lady rebels.

And they're going to play it man to man, say, coming off that injury.

But now she's going to have the job of Tasha Humphries.

Tasha flashes outside, looks inside.

When you've got someone that big, you can get it down low, makes your offense that much better.

Get into Humphries again with the jumper up and no good rebound to Gainesville.

They control a three pointer by Tasha Humphries Yes well you want to see Tasha Humphries fighting the way she did on that first shot Keeps her off the board, but you can't give them a second attempt now with a shooter like Tasha on the team, I just guess for her last high school game, she might be a bit pumped up there again just to see where Landers plays her.

When she goes to Georgia, she can play any position on the floor.

Just about Gainesville, I should mention Starks, about half court press.

Then he backs up into the zone and caused a turnover and the lady rebels cannot afford it.

They don't have as many possessions as Gainesville who will run with the ball and shoot it a little more and try to quicken the pace a little, rush it a little bit.

Rusty.

You can tell she doesn't have her timing down.

That was just a wild pass there.

If we didn't mention she had certainly a stress fracture, she's going to head out to 100%, maybe not quite there.

Gainesville in control from the start, working in for Humphries who likes the three pointer, likes the range.

Nice follow through, but not this time, lady.

Rebels control.

Now if I'm Coach Farmer, I just have having to shoot the three.

She's got to make some but at least it keeps her away from me.

Sure, two's inside, rebels inside and all that.

Acker is fouled.

She'll shoot to Gainesville.

If you didn't see last night beat Westover 58 to 31 to get here in Macon, Georgia.

Border standpoint yet again.

Herb White, we should mention after this high school state final, we've got the boys triple play.

So stay with us for some more great high school basketball action that some other folks were familiar with.

East Hall, another Gainesville team.

Well, I'm telling you, Gainesville just keeps putting out the basketball teams year in and year out and West Lawrence right down the road.

Second one is no good.

So score remains eight two.

And there you can see Humphries at six four, bringing the ball up inside.

no, good lady.

Rebels fighting for control controlled by the red elephants.

Another shot for the outside.

I like it.

She has no pockets.

She's not shy.

Why not?

Tucker's looks inside some fun long miles.

Nice idea.

How proud that Coach Farmer's got to be upset about the offensive rebounds.

That's five offensive rebounds already for Gainesville.

And if they are able to do that, they're going to dominate this game with their size.

There you see Gainesville happening now, of course, Trap pressure, lady rebels working around trying to get it inside this certainly with the ball knocked around and make Henson gets the ball she'll run the show she's pushing it up but everybody running for the red elephant's just looking for that open spot.

Found it up.

No good control by the lady rebel Melissa Roberts on the rebound and she's going to have to get on the boards for the lady rebels.

Keep them in this ballgame.

Searcy from the corner and often gets the bounce and that's a big bounce for it's part of how we say in the first quarter, how can be a good possession?

But you do not want this Gainesville team to get too far ahead or to be over early Shooters rams their to see that bounce on that thing.

Gypsy hands out.

Yes well no good hair ball by Shirley Lady Revell slowing it down, not wanting to break, not looking to break, working inside and still with a questioning look on his face after that shot.

A little force out there, maybe.

No, that's a third unforced fourth turnover and that's really going to hurt you.

I mean, it's one thing to have pressure.

It creates a turnover.

They've had two bad passes and that was just an unforced turnover as well.

Even though there was a little pressure there.

And boy, you just can't afford to create your own turnovers against the team.

As good as Dame Joanna Harrison checking in for Gainesville as is Tar Hendricks.

So early substitutions for Gainesville.

I'll try to wear you down make Henson start from a point try to see what's going on Humphries on the opposite side just one to watch or even move without the ball Well the rebels going to a fit of his own.

It does not work as he no longer has.

He's a talented team.

I mean, yes, Humphries is a superstar, but they've got some players around her.

There's that halfcourt trap been effective so far.

If nothing else, quickens the pace.

A little push out of bounds, a little looked out there by Keita Waller like all in the contact but they were able to call that a little surprise The lady rebels are going man to man especially the session not quite 100% and that looks like a match up are kind of tough for him, but they're just staying man to man.

So we'll see.

Brittany Jones checking in for the red elephants.

You can see they go a lot deeper on the bench with the drive just standing there, Humphries with the block and she'll need the break long pass wide open up for the layup No good as Hendrick misses the Demi rebound taken by him down by Searcy And here we go Lady rebel with a controlled break That's a beautiful pass a moment ago by Humphries about a three quarter court pass right where the other player needed it to lay it in.

Just couldn't get it down.

Both coaches try to get a feel for the game, try to get a feel for the pace.

They know each other.

So that to me surprises Humphrey To lead the break again, There she goes.

Three on two.

She'll take it all the way with the little scoop and unbelievable.

She can control herself with the size she's got at six four and I don't know, she's probably around £200.

I would things that I've learned over the years, it's probably not good to get some girls games, but was a basketball player.

He's a basketball player.

Three pointer is good.

12 to 7.

That is a huge move.

I'll tell you what, if that ankle's bothering her, it hasn't shown early.

Meg Henson again controlling things, looking at a23 zone by the lady rebels, setting things up and they're just swarming all over I knew was four all over and they get the tall arrow in the favor of the lady rebel.

Doris Hendricks got tied up.

So here we go.

Well, except for the unforced turnovers, they'd be in the ballgame.

But their passing angles have been bad so far.

They've made the long pass into the post, which she can't do.

They're going to have to do a little better with her Christmas on their passes on the offensive end.

Well, maybe if they feel like they took the best shot early and come back and it gives them a little confidence.

Yeah.

Yep.

You're absolutely right.

Lateral pass all the way across the floor is no advantage if you make that pass.

Martha comes in for the Gainesville Red Elephants, ranked number one Fannin County unranked.

So it is kind of an odd couple, but that's what's so great about high school basketball lady Rebels setting up Searcy trying to go to the hoop is cut off passes down the lane up with a three pointer in an out rebound tucked inside Good work by Melissa Roberts and that's what this lady rebels team needs good shots and go after the board That was a nice offensive series since he took the base line, the stop pitched out for the open three looked like it was going bounced out there you see it nice rebound by Melissa Roberts and gets the foul in the game will greatly pressure like yourself didn't have to get position but most of us normal people do and that was nice nice job inside of getting to position now you got to convert the foul shots early miss do it six to position to open wasn't the whole thing playing power forward and six to Tasha Anderson checking in for the lady rebels only a sophomore so she'll be in the back four only five four.

I'm sure you knew how to put that hand in the back looking for lethal.

sure.

Yeah, she does touch the second one is good so 12 eight early going three eight high school championship Gainesville in the red Fannin County the lady rebels in the silver in that two three zone They've gone to the zone now and they're staying in this ballgame.

Made a couple of stops defensively.

Let's see how Tasha works inside long three pointer no good by Meg Henson rebound Tasha Humphries up with the jumper from 15 A little short that offensive rebounding is killing the lady rebels right now that's about six or seven they're getting their hands on them but they can't pull them in 45 to go in the first quarter.

James rolling control with the ball only up by four and taking their time now.

So the pace a little more like the lady rebels would like it to Humphries up from 14 doesn't go down hard rebound from Melissa Robertson will be a foul and that was fortunate Tasha Humphries won't miss many of those 12 footers but right now if you are a coach farmer, you're saying, all right, you took the initial hit and we're hanging right in there.

As you look at the catch, he'll say, Hey, come on, he's got to go inside a little more and get a little better shots.

The rebels try to go up with it.

No go.

No drilling in Russell by Roberts.

After the shot was blocked, she went and got 013 pointer.

No good.

That was Bessie Patterson taking it to Humphries, turning the ball up, looking a little stutter step again, gets the three pointer up and down and at the buzzer.

And what a way to end the third quarter, 15 to 8.

It has been what we expected Tasha Hough to show more action in the second quarter girls three state championship after these messages line after what Gainesville up on Fannin County 15 to 8.

Let's go to our sideline reportedly So we saw them.

All right so you might like this now Gainesville as head coach Manson Hill is always worn the same tie during the state tournament.

But this last year, after they won the state title, he actually retired his title.

This currently in a glass case at the school next to the championship trophy.

Steve, back to you.

All right.

Sort of like your jersey or like my jersey.

Yeah, they retired it.

They gave it to a better player.

Here we go.

Second quarter 15, a pretty good ball game.

Interesting ball game.

Meg Henson trying to get something going for Gainesville.

my goodness Humphrey from the three point line up and good So that makes five for ten on three or four for six actually on three.

Just pick your poison with Tasha to have away from the basket sometimes, but not when she's stroking it like tonight.

And out of the 18 points for Gainesville, she has 14 of them in the zone for Gainesville.

Now, looking it around, trying to get in as open spaces and the Lady Devils try to figure out a way to get inside Searcy up.

Searcy milked it off the rim and I believe that will be Gainesville Ball.

If you get your fan and county's coach.

FARMER did you say let Humphrey get hers and stop everyone else?

Or can she so control the game that you cannot let her get her?

Yeah, you got to give her problems somehow.

And hello, nephew for Fannin County Bethany Patterson's had two threes that were down and in came out six more points.

It could really be a close game, but it's just a matter of inches.

And, you know, Gainesville working around the zone, looking inside up and no good.

But Lauren Niles will shoot to Humphries can score as many as it takes to beat if you're going to get hurt.

And sometimes you can't do that.

Yeah.

Especially when she's got her free shot going like saw those two first foul shot by Niles off the yard checking back in Jamaica surely And you just eventually wonder to these lady rebels who don't go as deep, when will they wear it down?

We shall see.

Well, not a tremendous pace on this ballgame through the night.

They're playing at a fairly slow pace and the pressure is really not that much of a factor right now.

Gainesville is averaging 58 points a game, so they're well below that outside no good Gainesville trying to control and they do Niles with the rebound, well, they're not going to get many second shots because Gainesville is an excellent rebounding team, so they're going to have to shoot a high percentage of Lady Rhythm, double teaming the ball, trying to put a little more pressure outside to make it tougher to get it inside to Humphrey, bringing that two three out a little bit, working it around, puts it working now, but we're just waiting for Humphrey to maybe get a second shot.

That was interesting.

Trailing down on the ground, got the ball and called for walking.

So the lady rebels control 626 left for the second quarter.

19 de Gainesville up the lady rebels not out.

There's that zone there's an almost Yeah but Lady Rivers control sometimes you see an easy layup off or something like that but Gainesville good job and getting back and guarding the basket up top Searcy down low no foul letting Rebel ball coach Farmer I thought there was a coming over the back and it looked like it's in here but you can tell Sarasota is just still a little loss He's just not quite able to get that shot off and explode to the hoop like, you know she wants to inbound pass deflected and make Henson will try to get something going and there's a foul Stephanie Patterson call for the personal the lady rebels have got to stay positive and coach Farmer's got to try to keep the attitude good because again having lost twice to this Gainesville team you look over that scoreboard, you're down 11 this early.

It's easy to get frustrated.

So you got to really try to stay positive and stay in the game.

If we haven't mentioned it, Panic County has won state titles, Girls basketball 93 and 99.

So now it's about Humphries going around the circle up jumper no roll there rebounding Big factor in this game Gainesville three shot two for Searcy controls but here come the lady Rebels five back for Gainesville So pull it back out and look for something good And that's what the Lady Rams will do.

A little too much dribbling shot up and in final whistle, Roberts, 32, dart guard, drove the baseline and drew Tasha away from Melissa Robertson.

She was able to hit the short jumper.

The ball was set on every hoop building.

So I guess they kind of do need to make passive aggressive, but gets the ball away.

And there's a foul at Bethany Patterson coming from behind a little overaggressive.

You don't want to extend that zone out too far.

That's going to open up something inside 19 to 10 three, a girls state high school championship Gainesville against fan and kind of glad you're watching some good high school basketball all weekend and actually all season.

I mean some terrific players here but I were talking about it before the game as Henson tries to go to the hoop and is cut off and brings it back out.

Humphries from way outside three point range.

Yes And the final amazing.

That's six three pointers I believe, for coach of the night.

And she's reaching nothing but the bottom of the screen really gets that shot off quickly.

And what range for a player that's six for another turnover and they've got to be careful here you pass right into a triple team there.

No way Melissa Roberts could catch that pass.

Three games four players run at the time.

HENSON Inside, outside Gainesville working the ball nicely.

Now back inside to Niles who gets a notch, goes up with a shot and gets the roll and all of a sudden they get another basket.

Without the lady rebels entering, it may be time for a timeout.

Coach Farmer looked up, then thought about taking one another.

Turnover unforced this dribble it off for me Meg Henson bringing it up 2410 359 left in the second quarter as Gainesville has been in control from the start lady rebels in that zone help to try to come to the top.

She'll take that shot you've seen her take it from farther Matt Hudson in the corner looking inside no good Joshua Humphrey setting up.

It's such an advantage to have someone that tall, that good of a passer at the point pace has slowed.

This is what Fannin County wanted, but they certainly didn't want to score.

That was a walk for the Pacers sitting him.

Unfortunately, they've turned over the ball too many times and Tasha Humphrey is just killing her three point shot.

I think she's got five or six.

We'll get to that in a couple of minutes.

But that's the ballgame right now.

The turnovers in the three point shooting by Tasha Humphrey, lady rebels trying to get something going.

Even if you can get to the foul line and get a couple of shots.

Good defense by game still aggressive challenging every pass up top Searcy try to get position down low if it doesn't go rebound by Henson she controls looking down Cook see what she's got next to on to catch and go into the hole and that's a good call Henson a clever little ball handler She's got a nice crossover dribble and she's quick out and after trying to get the charge just didn't get there in time watch is still moving down Humphries takes a breather and well deserves it where they put the coaches tie in there in a glass case what they're going to do with Tasha's jersey trying to go inside game control and bringing it back out Henson to set it up now the lady rebels in a man to man Miles gets the ball looking to see if she can get something going not to be knocked outside.

Here we go dials in shot loses the ball that will be a jump ball possession arrow to the lady rebels.

I got a feeling nobody is ever going to be wearing that number again.

Still with Gainesville.

Well, they should be just what a terrific, terrific career it has been and should continue to be at the University of Georgia.

2410 237 left in the second quarter of the girls three a state championship fan and cat him.

Well, I'll tell you what turnovers you're right and offensive rebounds and offers well Fannin County's not helping themselves with some of the passes but you also got to credit Gainesville defense They got some quick feet and quick hands.

And earlier Herd was saying the angles on the passes.

But I'll tell you what Gainesville plays those passing lanes, well, they really anticipate well, looking inside to Searcy, she's tentative, goes up and out of bounds.

Ball Lady Rubber, you can see that brace on her right knee.

Georgia's a little late.

She had a stress fracture, kept her out some of this season.

She's just starting to get back to the player she was inside Jumper up jumper no good by Melissa Robinson Here comes Meg Henson And again they're just getting one shot done.

So it will be interesting to see some rebounding statistics and half up no good offensive rebound Nope ready rebels try and this time that possession they're all going Gainesville way.

As we mentioned earlier, these two teams have played twice this season.

Gainesville has won both and Tasha Humphries is getting some good rest on the bench up and good boy hurts when you don't get the stars out and don't pick up any points.

Nice quick short jump shot right off the offense and he raps.

Try to spread it out a little, try to get it inside, look for the creases inside the surface, takes a dribble up.

No good to go to the line.

Well they're able to get the ball into first he down low she again having a tough time getting a shot off and got to feel like that leg is not 100% state that they're playing well stress fracture I mean just they don't stress pressure long and certainly does gets you to heel especially if you continue to play on it.

Couple other UGA side is because they're not signees as we saw last night from south Gwinnett Lewis Williams and Mike Mercer, the junior great basketball players have committed to the university and have signed yet again for coach Felton will be keeping a close eye on them until the early signing period in October.

Do we do we charge you for commercial time for University of Georgia basketball program at this point in time?

All right.

So, you know, some statistics about 626 11 Gainesville still in control.

Humphries back in the game.

Bad news for the lady reps maybe took that two or 3 minutes off well rested enough bringing the last 130 for Gainesville who try to work inside and there she is one on one with Searcy And this is an interesting that you trying to get the whole the spin move what she likes up and out but will go and shoot to serve she had the hand on the arm that is so strong.

I mean even when you hit her she gets a good look at the basket and gets a good stroke.

You know, no offense to Coach Drummond in the men's basketball team at Georgia, however, that is the star signing of Georgia this year.

Well, maybe Coach Belt might want to take a hard look at Tosha Humphrey.

I'm telling you, she can really play gets nice elevation on her jump shot Great spin she can pass she can play forward.

She can play guard.

She can play the post.

First one was good, second one up and make it to 2811 games well in control and with more half court traffic switching up their defenses and that's very close to back court.

Here's spreading it back out watch Gainesville zone.

So active sometimes you play this out, you get a little stagnant but watch them move inside to Searcy, goes up against Humphries and she'll go to the line services game in there.

No doubt about it.

When she gets the ball, she tries to get it up and to the basket.

It's tough to go against Tasha with 100% on the legs, but she's going to step and get some free throws anyhow.

Well, so far it's Tasha Humphrey, 19, Fannin County, 11, Tasha Hopkins with 19 first half points.

When the rebels need every point they can get and ill afford to be missing anything at this stage.

Well, it's a good idea to go if you're not hitting from the outside again, anything to go to the line.

But that does hurt.

Missing to hucksters with the rebound and get it to make Henson final minute of the second quarter and it will also be interesting to see the shooting percentages to steal that's what you need maybe some steals into the open up no good ones who just didn't have control and it is Gainesville ball Well credit to Henson getting back down the floor and creating some turmoil on defense to save that breakaway layup cast Hendricks back in surely will take a breather fan and count a two for eight from the line And you're right Herb that has hurt Coach Palmer He knows that he can't press this Gainesville team he just doesn't have the team speed to do it.

So his options are limited.

They're going to have to get back in this game of shooting defense and rebounding and that's a long way to come back.

But they've got a whole has to do it.

Gainesville will go for the last shot.

Thumbs down from Coach Hill, which has got to be a play.

Could that be the result of how they're playing in the first half because it's big, All thumbs up.

Tasha Humphries Getting a position inside Wheeling and dealing and yes a man and wow, what a start what Parker 32 and 11 with seven to go lady rebels need to get a shot off there it is and it'll be short and that'll be the half.

Well nothing what we didn't expect Tasha Hopkins has been nothing short of spectacular And the entire Gainesville team, as you said, her good defense in the rebounding.

Well, Coach Farmer's got his work cut out for him to keep his team's head up and keep him in this ballgame.

Let's let's go courtside to Lisa and get the from the coach for the first half.

All right.

So thank you, Coach Hill.

You guys jumped out ahead of you, jumped out fast.

How do you keep this tempo going for the second half?

Well, you know, hopefully we won't get tired.

We're playing a lot of players and, you know, it is one of our luxury.

We do think we have a good bench, so I hope we don't get tired and we're not planning on getting tired.

I mean, you know, if you're playing in a state championship game in here, you get tired and you know, you're probably in the wrong sport.

You know, kind of athletes.

We have, you know, an adrenaline brawling going.

I don't think we're in good times.

And what about Tasha Humphries having 20 points so far in the first half?

The injuries aren't you know I thought adrenaline's a great drive you know and injuries injuries ever caused any problems so far and I don't think it will help my coach Thank you.

Good luck in the second half.

Thank you.

All right.

So after two quarters, it's Gainesville 30, Fannin County, 11, much more high school basketball action in a moment.

Welcome back to the Macon Coliseum.

Halftime of the triple-A Girls basketball championship.

Big Red is on a roll.

Gainesville leads it 3211 over Fannin County.

Let's go courtside now and Lisa Wiese.

Lisa, thanks to knock you out right there with the two principles for this hall from Gainesville and from Fannin County, Fannin County.

Joining me now.

I know you guys have been here before.

You've been here a lot.

What's it like being here today?

it's great.

To be honest with you.

This is really not something that we felt like we could do this year.

We started out at the beginning of the year.

We felt like we had a just a mediocre ball team.

And these young ladies have worked hard and progressed and we're just very excited and feel very fortunate to be here.

Now.

Principal Davenport, I also know that you've also coach and you've also played.

So what's it like coming from that perspective when your team's down this much?

Fannin County's been down before.

We've been down as much as 30 points and come back in one.

So don't don't totally count us out at this time.

And what can you say about the fans support in the school support?

The fan support is tremendous.

I mean, if you look if you look into the bleachers, the whole communities here, you have the educators, you have business people, you have students.

As a matter of fact, one of our biggest followings are the adults in the community.

So we're very excited.

I know you can't say anything back to have Gainesville as principal right next to me, but what can you say about this rivalry?

I know this is a big time rivalry.

This rivalry goes back to about 1993.

That's the first year we won the state championship.

And that year we played Gainesville twice during the regular season.

We played them in the region excuse me, the subregional championship game.

We played them in the region championship game and we played them in the state.

Good Castro.

I mean, first of all, we played them in the state championship game and of those games win in overtime.

So it was, you know, it's it's it's a rivalry.

It's a good healthy rivalry.

And every time we play Gainesville, we always look forward to it.

And your coaching experience and player experience helps good hands coach.

And now on the other end, Gainesville, I know you guys have been here before, you won it last year.

You're back again.

Do you, do you, do you feel a little spoiled?

No, we're not spoiled.

We're just hungry.

Our kids work very, very hard.

Our coaching staff works very hard.

Our fan support is here.

Our whole community is here.

We're very excited about being here again.

It's very difficult to repeat and our kids are working very, very hard and they play together.

They like each other and we're very, very proud of our Lady Red Elephants.

And I know as well Coach Manson Hill His tie was retired.

It's currently in a glass case at the school.

Well, you know, we just there's so many good things about Gainesville.

Our kids work very, very hard just like it fan and county.

We all have great kids.

We're all wearing you.

We participate in the same region against each other.

And so it's it's a complement not only to Gainesville High School but also to our region that we've got great basketball.

We both have great kids and great fan support, and it's great to be in Macon.

It's speaking of great kids.

You can't overlook Tasha Humphries and what she's done at the scene and what she means is her jersey going to end up in a glass case by any chance?

Well, I'm sure it probably will.

Dodgers work very hard, and one thing the Dodgers left us is a legacy.

She works very, very hard.

She's a great student.

Not only that, she's a great young woman.

And I really look forward to seeing her at University of Georgia in that Bulldog Nation and her working very, very hard to make her name for herself at Georgia.

All right.

Thank you very much.

Thank both of you.

Jim, back to you.

I thank you, Lisa.

I want to tell you about a programing note on Georgia Public Broadcasting coming up tomorrow morning at 11:00.

It's love and logic here.

Here's the information.

Don't miss this premiere.

Broadcast an introduction to Love and Logic.

It's every parent's dream to send their children into the world prepared to make a positive contribution.

Love and logic can help make that dream a reality.

Live from the GPB studios, America's parenting expert Jim Fay will offer easy to use practical techniques and funny stories about building character in children and eliminating the stress from parenting.

An Introduction to Love and Logic.

Sunday morning at 11 a.m. only on Georgia Public Broadcasting and the two guys that I know have a little bit of logic.

Anyway, she took Titanic and her flight.

Hey guys, don't claim that we have any logic because this game's not logical at all.

But it has been interesting and it has been an interesting show.

You would think that it was the specialists.

We look at that beautiful shot, a gem.

Here we go.

Highlights.

And it's the torture Humphreys show right now.

Yep.

Mostly from outside tonight for Tasha Humphries when they're coming that easy from three point distance, you might as well keep on letting them fly.

And she has been the story of not only this season, but of course she has been the story of this first half.

She is showing so much versatility.

Lady rebels had their moments.

There was a long three by bleep Anthony Patterson and she had two others.

They went down in and came out or it would have been a little closer ballgame.

But then you see Tasha Humphries had the answer.

She has her entire career and Melissa Roberts made some nice shots.

And in order to get back in this game for the lady, rebels have to do besides a prayer.

Let's take a look at the stats.

And they're going to shoot the ball better.

They only got 14 shot attempts to 26 for Gainesville.

29% from the field is not going to get it done.

The rebounding was not too bad.

Turnovers mostly.

Again, how about half of those were unforced and Gainesville had six points off the turnovers.

Let's quickly go to Lisa to ask Coach Farmer what he has to do in order to make this a game in the second half.

That's far more your team sound by 19 points.

I know you want it to come out fast and come out hard.

And what did you tell him for the second half?

I just told him I wanted to come out and compete.

Just have I mean, you know, I said they're a great team, but I think we're better than what we're showing.

It's just that we have a hard time playing back to back on Friday and Saturday night.

I'll make any excuses that we're just a little bit slow, lagging a little bit behind, getting the loose balls and we need to go.

We're not hitting good from the free throw line when they do give us the opportunity to get down, we just got to execute a lot better.

And so if we can get it to ten by the third quarter, by the end of the third quarter, for us to have a chance.

All right, Coach, thank you.

Good luck in the second half.

Okay.

Stay with us.

Third quarter, the girls triple A high school basketball championship.

Coming up, Gainesville 30, Fannin County, 11.

We're right back right after these messages.

stuck by ten a curve, right?

Bringing you the three AA girls high school championship.

Glad you're with us.

And I thought Coach Farmer said something really interesting in that you could do X's and O's and all that other stuff just told us Girls compete.

It's as simple as that.

Just go out there, compete.

Maybe some good things will happen.

All right.

That's all you can do at this stage.

And he also made a good point.

You know, I forgot that these teams had played last night and you mentioned it to the lady rebels, not near as deep as games were.

Probably played more minutes last night in their ballgame.

And so they may be feeling a little fatigued this evening.

Searcy inside for the layup and I'm going to ask you that before.

But I was thinking what high school kids do.

They get tired at all with the travel, but apparently maybe they do.

If they're not that do Well, sure they do.

And especially playing in semifinals and finals, you know, you burn that nervous energy as well.

Takes a little bit out of you.

So but maybe they can pick it up.

They scored on their first possession, got back, cut the deficit some way and let's see how long it takes.

Humphries to get back on the offensive end to put one in, he could see the lady rebel surrounding with two or sometimes three players in that zone.

So Humphries would just go outside.

She's hit a couple of hits and you said you forgot something.

You may want to catch that show.

Love and Logic in the morning as his new parents.

So do you think I should catch a lot of shows?

And that's one of them lady rebels trying to get something going in the third quarter to cut that deficit once again side Searcy again can't get it up throws it in the back of the backboard that'll be game school ball Melissa Roberts had Bethany are and cutting on the right side for the layup there you see her and then tried to force it in the system and created the turnover again Meg Henson and she has to close it against this lady rebel zone Humphries try to sneak up to the foul line inside and work to get back out as well.

Not really coming out as sharp as they were, certainly in the first quarter.

Couple of turnovers and maybe just a lack of intensity when you've got a 17 point lead, they try to get a little group that is a back court.

That's two turnovers for Gainesville.

Kind of uncharacteristic, may not be quite as sharp coming out with that big lead into the second half.

And let's get a closer look at this defense, because it looks like it might be an exotic defensive triangle and two or a box.

And one just a moment ago you saw Coach Palmer going, Yeah, you know, I'll tell you, we can't afford to turn the ball over.

Every possession is huge.

Let me remind you that all the basketball championships can also be viewed live on GPB internet site that's at WW dot GPB dot org.

Just follow the links to connect to the game.

All the games from this weekend will be archived and available on GPB the website as well that's WW w dot gpb dot org.

That's a great service.

People want to catch a ballgame on the web.

And even for these kids, if a scout wants to go back and take a look at a kid that during the ball game, freshman, sophomore and junior, they can go to our website and check it out.

I never thought of it that way.

You're right.

You bring up good points.

Gainesville trying to get a few points on the board themselves going against that zone.

Humphries Way outside now to the foul line working it around and lady rebels try to change it up a bit.

They catch him trying to bring it around the perimeter, looking inside and up and going there.

And this is a team that is showing some effort.

This lady rebels are they're playing harder.

623 left in the third 17 point difference.

Gainesville up on Center County, 30 to 13.

A reminder again to three eight boys high school championship follows this game.

So stay with us for terrific high school basketball pops outside.

She likes it.

She likes it, says it, she loves it, fires it to Kansas, but she was off balance and kick that leg out.

Just got herself on balance again and is able to hit a short jumper, which actually a tougher shot than the three about that 14 footer from the baseline Searcy on the baseline up and no good but Melissa Roberts will go to the line and that's a pretty good tandem those two going back and forth one feed in the other end and then the pace in the second half.

And looking back to the lady rebels pace right now, nobody running, nobody fast breaking, but still got to try to find a way to slow down tackle Humphries, which nobody's done in four years.

Lady reps had trouble in the first half from the line continues in the second half.

Yeah, that's just a killer in the game where you need every point and you can't get for free.

And I've got one lady checking in for Gainesville on Niles, who I guess quietly, When you have a player like Tasha Humphries, anything else you do on that team is quiet.

But she had a nice first half, some rebound, second one is good.

So makes it 30 to 14.

And as you know, Stewart being a former player, sometimes you can tell a team's tired by the way they shoot free throws.

Fatigue will show up at the free throw line, a little half court, maybe three quarters court pressure by the lady refs now try to change things up.

Humphries From the deep quarter it's up and no good short but there's that offensive rebound again up and over at Humphries over the back should go up to put it in just too much time for Humphries but had back in the story all season.

Well you got to be an exceptional player to be able to go over to a over six foot player and get a rebound without foul and which she just did.

And now weird and very dangerous part of the game if we have been already up for Searcy no good from the three again Melissa Roberts putting it a tough shot That was a big hit because it was a 20 point game and now an 18 point game.

Melissa Roberts always works hard around that basket.

Searcy on Humphries looking to nails, looking inside, cutting back, picks it.

Even when you're not on the Humphries team, sometimes when you run into it, it hurts.

Miles Just a patient Gainesville team The pace the pace the lady reps like But there's Humphries let's see what she does matched up against Searcy is it ten miles up to three point area looking inside to Henson with the long three quarter off the rim and Lady Rams will control that was a nice series already have a good defense try to run it get a little quick with the ball to the hoop no good Henson with the rebound There's the looking to run Humphrey up the middle here it goes and she is headed by Melissa Roberts I believe it was yeah well it was a very very foul Humphries didn't like it but she went across the arms That's that's fine.

You know, if you're going to stop the player from scoring, that's the way to do it.

Went for the ball, had a high dribble before all this could have been a palming the ball.

But Roberts actually took the harder fall than Humphries so no player likes to get hit hard.

But that was a good, clean, hard foul.

Well, I guess at the next level she better get used to that because it'll be a more physical game.

She'll be running up against more players her size, a nice quality for 24 as you see left in the third Gainesville in control from the start.

Looking for one more state title to add to the coronation of that young lady who has had one of the most sensational high school careers, boys or girls at the state of Georgia or anywhere else for that matter.

Half court pressure to the hoop and it is good.

Nicely moved there by her out in the locker.

Yeah that's a nice penetration just the kind roll and and the who called that timeout I would think maybe it was I don't know Well put 5 minutes and look to dunk.

Gathering his troops Here's the nice move by Acker to the hole and nice little short arc little jumper there Let me remind you to mark your calendar for Friday night that's March 19th for the return of Georgia's longest running high school Sports and academics program prep sports.

Plus, we'll meet some of Georgia's most successful student athletes, athletic programs and much, much, much more.

That's prep sports.

Plus, we're turning on Friday, March 19th at 11 p.m. exclusively on GPB.

Well, just had an old friend drop by and say, hello, Justin.

Tommy Gilbert, former executive director of the Georgia High School Association and a man who is primarily responsible for getting the Georgia High School Association and Georgia Public Broadcasting together many years ago to create all these television broadcasts of the high school championships.

And it's been a wonderful relationship.

Now, Ralph Swearingen has succeeded him, and we've continued our relationship and hopefully will do so many, many years into the future.

I know you really enjoy the house.

I do.

I've done some pro basketball and college basketball and you guys invite me back once a year and it is one of the best productions on any level.

Guys do a terrific job and should be proud.

Third quarter 410 left 3618 Gainesville over Fannin County.

You're watching three eight girls high school basketball championships, followed by the boys right after this.

And you see it, lady rebel students do.

But at this point in most games, you know, when you're this far down, you figure you've got to come out and pick up three quarter court, full court, try to put some pressure on.

But again, the lady rebels just don't have the team speed to be able to do that against this Gainesville team.

And it would probably hurt them worse than they are just staying back in their half court defense.

Tasha Humphries, who had a gimpy ankle, will take a rest on the side and Brittney George is in double zero for Gainesville.

Meg Henson With the steal controls it slows it down and might need a little help in there some dribbling She's a clever little ball handler up and nicely done.

Well the lady rebels tried to take advantage of the fact that Tasha was out of the game going into seriously.

But again, she just can't get up in the air to catch those lob passes.

That was key to Waller, who is a sophomore.

So you might be seeing her back here in Gainesville, moving that zone around.

Lady reps try to go to the hoop and do it quite nicely.

Thank you.

The hoop bye out.

An actor who started to get a little active on the offensive side and all of a sudden it's 3820 with three 14/3 quarter markers got an explosive spurt.

First step there.

She can take it to the hoop and she needs to go ahead and do that and hopefully score, draw the foul.

James, go working it around.

Interesting to see how they go out offensively without Humphries in there up and under and no good And Searcy controls the rebound and here comes the lady reps trying to get something going first time they've really tried to move the ball up the floor and they're forcing it inside blocked shot and I think there's a jump ball that was nice play Jones And here comes Humphries and the ball is going to go Gaines was way and the thing about Gainesville is if you try to press them you've got your biggest player who can maybe be your best ball handler.

So you got head honcho Humphrey bringing it up.

And Henson is a great little ball handler, very, very tough team to press.

And again, the lady rebels just don't have the team speed.

So very tough to press a team quick, quicker, faster and handles the ball better when you've got such a great move, shake and bake it off the board.

It doesn't get much better than that.

In case you don't know, that's Tonya Humphries.

She's pretty good.

Long jumper, no good control by Gainesville Henson.

We'll try to get it out and we've got it wrong.

Traveling.

All I got to feel is probably a few boys coaches around the state that wouldn't mind seeing Tasha Humphries suiting up for their team.

And I'm serious.

Well, I'll tell you what, she's just got a naturally talent.

As you can tell.

She's well coached and she's got some good fundamental moves.

Searcy up no good.

Here comes Tonya Humphries leading the break.

Let's see what she does.

Nice pass up and good.

Yeah, that's the play of the game.

Nicely finished.

what a play.

Key to Waller, The future and maybe the past.

Going back and forth.

That was a nice break up.

She got any better than that?

Let's just see this again.

No, look.

Well, you see the play a moment ago.

Hopefully we'll see Tasha on the break.

But the nice part about that pass had the touch on it.

Stu running in full speed.

He's got to be able to put a nice touch so the player can control it.

She laid it right in there.

That was just beautiful.

As we mentioned, Waller Quartet of sophomore averaged 12 points a game.

That's it.

Look, she will get a state title.

And I thought the principal for Gainesville made a good point.

And there was an article in the paper today, How hard touch.

Here we go.

Watch this.

Fast break, folks.

No, look, then you're absolutely right.

Perfect touch on it.

Player had to catch and hop and that was it.

That's what you want to do.

But she worked so hard.

She was talking about she'll watch an NBA game or an NCAA game on television.

Tasha And then she'll go out that next weekend and spend hours in the gym trying to emulate that move until she gets it down.

So even with all the great natural ability she's gotten success, she said she continues to work hard.

And man, we all know that's the key.

How about these numbers?

With 2 minutes left in the third quarter?

Tasha Humphrey 27 points, seven rebounds, one block shot, 66.

So she tried to go to the hoop, a couple walking at two assists.

Not bad and we're not done.

And neither she.

But you're right.

I mean I think, you know, you played on all the levels in the first the great players are great because not only do they have a natural talent, but they work so hard at the game.

And I think Humphries is going to continue that into into college.

There's Henson trying to work around pushed out and it will be Gainsville ball.

Well she'll get along just fine with Andy Landers because he is certainly a guy that loves to work hard and they're going to be a great match.

Recently you're starting for UGA, so Humphries, you would think would get a lot of playing time next year.

Gainesville inbounding ball up by 22 so they doubled up and shot it inside and nicely done Taras Hendrix with the nice little jumper inside.

And as we said and you said Gainesville is not a one woman team.

They have several talented players on this squad and at this point it becomes a part of playing hard and still playing for pride right now.

Nicely done.

Well, an outstanding program such as Coach Farmer's Head for so many years.

They've got they've got a lot of pride and they're going to continue to play hard no matter what the score, the state championship ballgame.

And there's the steal and it's Aldon Rocker who's played a nice second half up no good but fouled and I believe that Searcy he'll go to the line and you see the state of our democracy and you're right she's continuing to play hard made several nice plays here in the second half Searcy to the line she'll shoot two he's averaging 20 points before she injured her knee had a stress fracture was mentioned all during the game and not making excuses but you can see just that first step and favoring it a little and probably doesn't have as much jumping ability as she would when she's at full strength.

Both foul shots.

You're probably lost a little conditioning when she sat out and then playing two nights in a row.

I mean, it's just a tough road to hoe.

But she has no choice.

Well, both teams have to do it.

Humphries bringing it up with the jumper a little short that time.

Nice rebound up and no good and a lot of hustle there and a little the little rubber ball carries Hendrix almost whatever press row I don't say it brings a flashback from last night you know over the press table gets Andresen here in press row you're not as quick as you used to be.

I never was.

Gainesville in his own setting back to three Lady Revs, try to work it around, looking inside to Searcy since she can get anything that dangerous cross-court Pass up and no good but again to the foul line for the Patterson will go draws the foul quick little player nice whirl Tasha Hopper we mentioned we've been talking about a McDonald's all-American.

Imagine there's a lot of folks in Fannin County they're going to be sorry to see Tasha Humphreys leave.

But you know what amazes me?

That you see a great player like that and say we'll never be another one.

And then one or two years later you go, my goodness, we're to destroy this boy.

Come from.

Yeah, well, you know, they said things like that when Teresa Edwards came along and we saw her again, I mentioned that that move in the lane there, it's playing well pass by Humphrey.

We saw a great freshman for Collins Hill last night And again, you never know.

You hate to put a lot of pressure on somebody as a freshman, but certainly she has as much talent anybody as come along here quite a while Gainesville with the john topping over it is Roberts no good the rebound certainly going after to the floor and what's to call Gainesville ball and girls basketball in general.

Stu is just really turned into a fun sport to watch that game last night with Collins Hill and Stevenson was played at an unbelievable, tremendous athletic moves on him to go And how about that from three quarters course they wave it off.

Tasha Humphrey throws it in, everybody with a smile.

The officials are smiling.

I think the fan and county team will appreciate it.

All right.

Something she just looked up.

She just looked up.

We're like 3 seconds.

It goes, You know what?

I'm going to have the heat, but we're going to go to a break.

I'll tell you what.

We'll show it to you when we come back.

Gainesville over Fannin County with one quarter remaining.

We'll be right back.

With a high school basketball.

I wish I had access to the sky some very high And welcome back to the three girls high school basketball finals, 4025.

There's the story of the game.

Tasha hunt for you.

You want to see the shot of maybe the tournament?

Here we go up.

And what do you say 65 foot or whatever couldn't see the clock.

So one of the officials waved it off, though.

And that's that's kind of insult to injury.

Almost like the feet Maravich Hook shot back in 1973, went against us at the end of the game from about 50 feet.

And the reason I bring that up is because at SI.com second, the chip towers on Monday is the 34th anniversary of us holding him to 57 over in Athens, 57 and I have a big article about that in the AJC, I believe, Monday.

So we'll look for it for sure.

We'll look for the story on this game.

But the story has been, as we thought it be, Tosha Humphrey, Gainesville in their zone one quarter to go to a state final or state championship and that was Searcy who just can't get the vertical lift right now.

He just I mean, he just had sort of a feeling it might go as you watched.

Coach Farmer's wife had your short checkers.

She is graduating this year right Gainesville working it around.

That takes a lot of strength to get a shot up from there as well.

Sure does.

Gainesville inside the basketball just bouncing their way up and in and good and nicely done toes Hendrick's quiet way the sophomore so the seniors have a nice little game inside surrounded by the three lady rebels and it go so a chance for a three point play although that last three point play we saw is probably the most tucker of the night up and Gordon 4925 and we were talking about some of the game last night, Collins and Hill and Stephenson and 11 of those players from those two teams going on college scholarships next year.

So girls basketball in Georgia really coming into its own.

They blocked by Hopkins looking down and there's the baseball pass around a little off the track down up no good He's there for the rebound He's got it to the wall and it is going to get put up with 5126 Gainesville back in the zone.

Lady rebels taking their time still trying to try get shots.

Searcy inside with that little turnaround hook it doesn't go and Hopkins is there for the rebound No slips out of her hand it up and it's got a story of rebounding the was certainly offensive rebounds for Gainesville but now they're showing Brookside behind the back and you talk about people that can tough.

She's putting it all on show tonight and there you got it 28 point lead.

Why not?

That was wall finish in the garden these fans going to appreciate it I guarantee you.

And she's not doing it to embarrass the other team.

She's just out there showing the talent that she has.

And I think Coach Hill is going to come in with a few substitutions.

Watch this behind the back and then the normal pass.

And she's got such a touch.

You saw the strength here.

She can throw it and shoot it 60 feet and then coming down, she doesn't touch the ball.

That's just a little flip pass.

And yeah, she's got it all.

Well, you know, it's more of a almost coronation as it is a state high school basketball game.

If You have to go out and you've had such a great career.

Why not go out with this kind of great note, sensational game?

You would have been remembered whatever you did tonight.

But certainly this game is one for the books.

Yeah, and we haven't seen her stats lately, but ours was.

She's probably got double figures rebound and we know she's probably up around 30 points and she may have a triple double go and she's throwing a lot of assists, especially in this last half.

And let's go back down to Lisa, see if she's got courtside.

Hey, talk about what a great basketball player Tasha is.

But her mother was, also a great basketball player to her mother, played at the University of Auburn, was in all SCC, and she also played professional basketball overseas.

She also was an assistant coach at Gainesville.

Now she's currently an assistant coach at UGA, where you all know Tasha is headed.

Stu, back to you.

All right.

Thank you, Lisa.

As you saw just a moment ago, we don't want you to forget coming up, the boys, three high school state basketball championships.

So just a great night of high school basketball here for you as the Lady Reds try to get something going, anything going, it's all for pride right now as we have 619 left in this fourth quarter, 5325.

And it's interesting to watch Tasha Humphrey, her facial reactions to because I always say pretty calm and just over overly react to anything she's been getting force around the world tonight will that'll be the Lady Reds ball.

Well sometimes you know a great scorer she probably is passing the ball more tonight because you know they've got the big lead She knows they've got the game under control and she's just showing a little bit of her game that she may not be able to show quite often.

And if Gainesville holds on, that will be three of the last four state titles going their way, not bad at all.

Best.

I mean, the Cavs in the series had a rough night.

Three long wins go down in the best and come back out.

well, I'll tell you what.

I'll tell you who's the greatest person on the court right now, and that's Carson Anderson who just took that charge and performance going.

All right.

When she comes up about his race, try to help his way.

So, yeah, you're right.

A lot of guts to step in and take that run, especially in a game 28 point lead Lady Braxton trying to work patiently against this Gainesville team.

Try to get it inside and there's Carter with a steal.

And it's just fun watching her bring it up.

It's just fun watching what she's going to do.

So let's watch this.

Watch and we're going to call toss, if any, elbow.

That was a tough call.

Not going to be popular there on the red Gainesville side, but her fourth foul is not really a factor.

Now, that's good.

Well, I'd rather her we pulled out of the game go fouls to get penetration really doesn't matter she's got one but I believe should we take it out of the game momentarily lady reps looking for the charge and Henson gets it.

I guess what's good for the lady Rebs is good for the red elephant.

So we go the other way and they just try to check in.

This might be the last you see.

I'll talk to Humphrey.

Well, that's high school basketball players at any level.

And so out of the photo and the fan and county section also standing up and giving some applause, and rightly so.

It's a great rivalry.

But there's a lot of respect between these two schools Gainesville inside, and it will just be what the final score is going to be as long Daniels will go for a three pointer, my friend right, right there.

But we talked at the beginning of the game.

What happened?

You join us a little late.

We did mention that these two teams have played each other twice this year.

Gainesville had handled things easily.

So it wasn't an intimidation factor.

It was just a matter of, hey, we've got to do something differently.

And tonight they're just good.

Yeah, that's the tough part.

You know, you play one way all year long and they had to change something up to try to do something different.

Of course, Gainesville knew if they played their game, they're going to win again if they play well.

And that's exactly what's happened.

And I look for Coach Hill probably to go to his bench pretty soon and take the out the rest of his starters.

And we've been talking so much about Gainesville and about Tasha.

Humphrey Well, we should, but let's not forget Phenix City came in on ranks, had a couple of huge upsets, won over Westminster who was ranked second.

So it's been a sensational season for these young ladies.

Still nothing to hang their hat.

They came against one of the best players in the state, one of the best players ever, and they've had a very, very fine season.

Yeah, this just shows you what you can do if you get to play well at the right time.

They really picked up when the playoffs started and that's what you've got to do here.

You see Tasha Humphries stats, 29 points, nine rebounds, probably has six or seven assists at least Gainesville just trying to get inside and it looks like an offensive foul and she's probably got three or four blocked shots as well and a couple of intimidations.

Martha Collins coming over the back for 43 for another state title for Gainesville over Lady Reds as they have trying to penetrate that Gainesville defense but haven't been able to do it again that James was quicker and against Lady reps looked like that just got a little fatigued tonight Nice three pointer with the Christian Carter with a nice three and a lot of these players playing in a final high school game, many not going as Humphries has to play college ball.

So it's a big moment for them to Gainesville wanting to work some of that clock off inside to go and it's foul and long to come for shoot too.

Well tough to look back on it you know any time soon when you finish runner up in the state championship game but in the year give you some perspective.

I played in the state championship game my junior year.

We lost.

But hey, it was wonderful to be there and to get that opportunity just to play in it.

And I'm sure you know the fan and county will look back on this season and realize that they they ran up against one of the great players of all time.

And there's a little tear in your eye when you're talking about it.

So apparently it still runs deep with you.

But we've got a couple of bad calls, as close as always.

And I understand therapy after game one that Searcy gets the rebound.

And here comes the lady rebels trying to get on the board, trying to make it just a draw, a respectable source.

And yet the drive outside and jumper is very nicely shot by Brittany Lim's.

It too little too late on Fort Smith.

They could have gotten some of those threes to go down early on and kept the game a little closer.

Early on, who knows what would have happened.

But now Coach Hill is going to his bench.

He's going to get some more of his starters out in just a moment.

Make Henson only a junior.

She runs the show Waller, another sophomore.

She's a starter.

So three seniors will lead this Gainesville team, too, will be back.

So maybe if they can build around those two, they may be back.

And I for the Lady Rebels, it's mostly a senior dominated team.

Once sophomore Bethany Patterson starts, but the rest are seniors.

Henson will see her shot mid is good for the Gainesville threat.

Elephant seems pretty much holding up to what they averaged during the season.

I mean the average 58 points a game and they're at 59, so they'll score somewhat over that.

Defensively, they're pretty good.

The whole team is below 40 and will probably in all likelihood do that again.

Is Henson who played a really nice four game takes seat with a state title to brag about.

Lady reps try to go against the Gainesville defense that zone and try to throw it over and that's not a good idea and we see that repeated many, many times.

The night games will get in the hand on one of the lady rebel passes Searcy with the rebound and here come the Lady Reds and coaches.

At this point, if you're losing by a large margin of winning, they want to get everybody and everybody wants to say, I played in the state finals.

Whoa, Like a charge but I think the officials have decided to let them go ahead and play this one out That's they can't get hit much harder than that.

Well, that was a first and ten.

And there's the over the back again by Martha Jones.

There wasn't a call on that.

I wonder if we get a replay on that, because that was about as hard to lick as you're going to see in the lane on that penetration a moment ago.

Maybe perhaps a good time to promote the high school football coverage that you guys had that was a linebacker hit right there going to the line Christie Reese Cross seven senior averaged a couple points a game this year for the Lady Reds is Horace Hendrix comes out starting a second for this Gainesville team that they've got another state title Lady Reds with the steal and the break and it's going to be a little helter skelter in a little while but just enjoy it for the Suns.

Get in there.

They want to get in the paper and get in the scoring column and shoot it up.

The other line.

I want to remind you that two boys, three, a state high school finals coming up right after this game, We bring it to you now.

East Harlem, West Lawrence, now the Gainesville team, East Harlem, sitting here many, many times.

We've had a couple of their games, some of the Cosby Boys and West Lawrence from about, about an hour down the road from here.

So we are going to bring it to that one as we wind down this one.

A 30 point game is Benton County.

Just not enough to challenge Gainesville there.

All star player working it around, counting down to ten left.

And it's just a matter of the final score.

Not much left to say about Tasha Humphrey I think we pretty much got her resolution here and it will continue.

Yeah, I've been sitting here off and on trying to think of players we mentioned in Georgia, boy or girl, that had a more stellar career as far as their team and individual statistics.

I just I really can't hang in there just alone came to mind to played for Southwest Macon they won the cup the titles when he was down there and he went on to play, of course in the NBA and had a great career.

But I don't remember him as a freshman.

I remember his last couple of years.

He had been a great player, but for somebody for four years to have actually talked to Humphries that I just I really don't remember what he was all state believe as a freshman and obviously has been ever since and just a sensational career that's just gotten better and better and she's in closer game Gainesville trying to go inside taking the long jumpers now the three pointer no good and the lady rose with the rebound trying to get on the board is her best to try to get in the newspaper.

We all like clippers.

You never know how many times you're going to get in a state championship game, so you better take advantage of it.

They don't come around very often unless you have to.

For Gainesville, I was thinking too, I grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and the only one that I can think of off the top of my head and we were talking about it before, see if I can guess.

Austin Carr.

Adrian Dantley.

It was Adrian Dantley.

Adrian started for a championship team as a freshman, made all metropolitan what they called it there all four years.

It reminded me a lot of Keesha.

He wasn't that big compared to other guy, but a great post-up player could shoot from the outside.

What's a Notre Dame?

And the rest is history in the pros.

But it has been a lot of incredible career and it has fitting that she leaves high school with a state title Gainesville still attacking and the Lady Reds disappointed about tonight her but I think when they think back and they came in on ranks and they so overachieved to get here with some big upsets nothing to hang their heads at at all.

No.

Again coming in on ranks and getting to the state finals, you can't ask for any more than that, Steph, winning the state championship and they weren't able to do that.

But again, certainly nothing to hang their head about.

Coach Farmer probably did a lot of coaching this year, counting down the final one, 30 or so Lady Reds just taking to chance to work for a good shot.

It's not about the score now.

It's just working inside.

And as the coach said at halftime, just give me effort.

And I think they did that.

But we may see a little bit of a dynasty coming up from that south when that team, again, that we heard last night, they have all five of their starters back with Lewis Williams and Mike Mercer, two great players, both juniors.

And then they had a sophomore player, about six foot eight Jukes and a couple of other younger players.

So again, you never know what's going to happen from year to year, but they've got a fine program and a lot of great players, so it's going to be more great high school basketball next year.

Well, if you're at home, take a breath, relax, get a beverage.

And this next game coming up, you are going to see some up and down basketball and it is going to be fun and entertaining.

So stay with us.

About 20 minutes or 15 minutes or so after this one.

We have the boys three, a high school state championship.

He saw the defending champs, the West.

Lawrence ranked number seven going against him.

So it will be a terrific matchup.

We hope you stay with us.

First one, no good.

And here we have a68 player coming into the ballgame.

That's for East of four excuse me, the lady rebels, and that is Megan Quinn.

Excuse me.

Six threes.

I was going to say she's six three, six, eight.

I just become a seven footer.

Sorry.

The and you still can't dunk even at seven.

Let's do the ice for the first thing to go.

Well I can tell you that under a minute left in this game many rebels just winding down the clock trying to work at the round trying to keep their intensity throughout.

Coach Palmer still yelling out instructions, get it inside, work it around.

And they do.

And at six three she looks like Megan Queen looks like she could grow some She's just a freshman so good idea for Coach Palmer to get her in there and get her a little bit of experience in a state championship game.

And she's certainly seen Tasha Humphries and seen what what you can be with some hard work.

Well it's always fun to is to follow the careers and you see these girls one year and how they mature and they come back and you can tell which teams obviously who have the other class that are who will be back.

But it's it's been fun to watch this Gainesville team for the last four years and we'll see what they do next year.

And you're right, the lady reps might be a familiar sight here in years to come.

They've got some good young talent coming off the bench.

Yeah, I'm sure Coach Hill feels like he may have to pick up his coaching pace just a little bit when you've a player like Tasha tends to make it a little easier on you.

But we had a bit of a feeling that it might be like this before the game.

It's a 30 point game and we give you all the nooks and crannies of the game.

But the bottom line is when you have a great player and you have a lot of speed and the other team isn't as talented as deep, things like this can happen, but a good effort by the lady reps.

It's just a cap down now.

Lady Rebels with a steal.

here we go.

And for the light, no good.

Lauren, Lauren Darnell could taste it, but no, not today.

Just a sophomore.

And I just detected a smile on Coach Hill's face to let it out.

But, yeah, it's locked up.

And, you know, coaches almost smile until it's over.

But it's been over for a while.

Six, five, four.

The countdown goes on, and that is it.

And I'm telling you, you can look at that gaze team to better then matter how many times you get here.

It's just a great feeling to win a state championship because, you know, you talk about all the talent these teams have, but there's a lot of talented teams in this state and you got to work hard to get back and win a state championship.

It all has to fall in place.

6133 And we talked so much about Tasha Humphrey, but Lauren Niles played a nice game and made ten at that point really control things.

So hats off to this red elephant's team, right?

Number one.

And they are number one.

And the lady rebels gave it everything.

They had did look a little fatigued tonight.

Just ran into a juggernaut in this Gainesville Red Elephant squad.

All right.

Let's go to Lisa.

Courtside.

Coach, congratulations.

Second straight state title.

Is this tie going into the glass case as well?

You know, it's probably going to toss as she goes out to Georgia.

You know, it's been you know this time games on it Georgia man a little bit everything so you know I think thoughts are probably take this one weather down down there.

What can you say about your team and the way they play today?

You know, you know, we've had this has been a team that was together all year long.

We've had injuries, but we've always had depth.

You know, we had great, great players, you know, the senior groups that, you know, we've we've never had anybody like it.

And there were won 13 and 15 in their career.

That's incredible.

Three state championships for me.

We're not midseason things like we're not going to come back even as a 16 year old girl from out of town.

All right, Coach, thank you so much.

Congratulations.

Go enjoy this win.

Thank you.

Thank you, Jim, for it.

So there you see it, the hugs.

And I know the coach will miss all the seniors, especially that went all right, John, with one one to go.

The three eight boys high school state championship is coming back.

We've got a lot of festivities here going on.

Some awards to be presented.

Let's go to talk to Humphries and see what she has to say about a stellar career and an incredible game.

Gosh, I can't help but notice her crying.

What a way to end your high school career.

I know it's great not only for our team, but those things worked so hard for you.

The confidence is extraordinary.

Go.

I know you're going to Georgia.

I know your mom is an assistant at Georgia.

How is that for you?

It's real excited.

I mean, I'm ready to see out there get on the next level in Georgia, in the SCC, on the women's college basketball program.

Thank you so much, Tasha.

Congratulations and good luck.

Thank you.

Stu, back to you in the presentation.

All right.

So again, we have more festivities to come and certainly a great high school game, boys, triple-A state high school championship.

Take a breath and then come on back for more high school basketball right after this.

This broadcast of the Georgia High School Association state basketball championships has been made possible in part by high BW local numbers, 613 South Trust Bank, Georgia's Electric Membership Corporation, Dodge State Farm, and by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.