Georgia Public Broadcasting presents the Georgia High School Association State Basketball Championships.

Major funding for this program is made possible in part by Georgia's electors membership corporations, IBM, CW, Local 613, Atlanta Y, Cobia, State Farm, Dodge.

And by viewers like you.

Live from the Macon Coliseum in Macon, Georgia, It's the 2005 G H.S.

Girls State Basketball Championship featuring Hephzibah and Kendrick.

And welcome, everybody.

Jim Janaki with you as championship weekend rolls on here on GPB.

The Cherokees come in at a region to the rebels out of region three.

These two teams have one thing in common.

Both are going for their first state title.

We turn it courtside to the two guys.

They'll call this one Dave Garner and Curtis Butts.

All right.

Thanks to you.

I'm looking forward to a great game here in day.

Two teams coming off of semifinal appearances last night.

Curtis, a great matchup on tap here between two teams that have just one loss between them.

Exactly.

And for the rebels of Hezbollah, it's championship bus.

Three times they've been to the state championship game, three times they've lost 32 another this year.

They beat teams by an average of 31 points in the regular season.

This is this is a team that will only accept the championship is led by Charlotte Styles, a senior guard who really is their big point producer.

But she has a lot of complementary help as well.

Styles certainly a very impressive athlete and they have a lot of them, as you mentioned, on that half of a roster.

As we take a look at the starting five white Morris Terry Styles, who we talked about at Camp Phillips really the for general there and certainly looking forward to her she really sees the floor really well and look for her to pitch it over to a styles again the a senior there a couple seniors but they go pretty deep do the lady rebels and there is a coach again Wendell Lofton the head coach 35 years at Hephzibah just an amazing record there.

He's an institution and certainly looking forward to a state championship this year.

And indeed, Hephzibah, one of the premier programs in the state.

Let's talk a little bit about the Kendrick Lady Cherokees are coming here as impressive, just one loss on the season.

They've also got a lot of athletes nervous.

Yeah, they do.

They average 85 points a game so they are going to pressure you.

They're going to force an up tempo.

They like to get out in the open court and get and make you do things that you don't want to do.

We'll get to.

Hollis is the leading scorer averaging 18 and nine almost double double a big player inside and only a junior at that So Hollis will be back next year and they've also got an impressive roster of players.

Hollis As we talk about Rice Smith, Rochelle Washington and Michelle MATTHEWS, the backcourt they're senior and junior, they're very experienced and a very athletic roster indeed for the Lady Cherokees out of Region 2888.

Their coach is a Sterling Hicks who is in his fourth season there and certainly done a great job with that program.

As we get set to rock and roll here tonight.

So Hephzibah and Kendrick set to go at it with it as we throw it to our announcer, Mr. Eddie Ashley Scoreboard and the Kendrick Cherokee for the record of 29 wins and one loss dressed in white as your home team, have your attention for the starting lineup.

First for Hephzibah at forward number ten, a five foot six sophomore for Timmy Phillips.

At forward number 12, a five foot seven senior Charlotte Styles at center number 23 in the five foot eight senior.

Look for your very have gone over 45 and five foot ten junior Portia White head guard 450 5a5 foot ten sophomore to lead some Morris and Hephzibah as head coach Wendell Lofton.

And now for Kendrick at forward number 11 five foot eight junior Angel right now head forward number 32, a five foot 11 junior.

Rosetta Hollis at center number 33, six foot Sophomore Kindra Smith at guard number ten, a five foot seven.

Junior Michelle MATTHEWS at guard number 25 foot seven, Senior Rachelle Washington and 10 to 10 coach Sterling Hicks.

So there you have it, the Lady Cherokees of Kendrick taking on the Lady Rebels of Hephzibah for the Triple State Girls title when we return from the Macon Coliseum.

Stay with us.

This.

Let's get started.

Let's get started.

Let's get it started here.

Hephzibah Ann Kendrick set to tip things off at first.

Let's go courtside at Jon Nelson.

Thank you, Dave.

Time to play the match game.

Devin Curtis helps him.

His defense is really, really fast.

How fast are they?

They are so fast that one of the opposing coaches they played in the playoffs said, Let's hike up your trousers and tie your shoelaces.

Fast, fast, fast, fast.

Talk to Kendrick, head coach Sterling Hicks.

He said, in a game like this, are you pressing up and down the floor?

You can play in the forties or play in the eighties, he says.

We don't play in the forties.

Well, Hephzibah is certainly a team, very athletic.

Kendrick can put some points up on the board here tonight.

Both teams have really been successful all year long as we talking about.

That's really an understatement.

Of course the old lady rebels in here undefeated Kendrick out of Columbus with just one loss.

So that was an out of state loss over in Alabama.

So, indeed, these are two teams right here that could prove to provide us with the matchup of the weekend, if you will.

You absolutely know, girls team in Columbus has ever won the championship.

Mark Milton, Erick Terrain and John Eve.

All the officials for today's game triple-A state championship is underway live right here on DVD.

They gone out Curtis Bond with you.

John Nelson again courtside with us today along with the rest of the Georgia Public Broadcasting television crew and a great weekend of high school hoops.

Kendrick, with the opening tip right here wearing the white caps, man.

Right.

Got off the mark there.

Back the other way.

Go the Lady rebels.

That's number 23.

Latoya Terry with the basketball into the corner, three point shot is short.

And that was Charlotte Styles, who we talked about in the beginning.

They're averaging over 13 points a game this year too long on the pass on the other end there by the Lady Cherokee, which you got to say, Curtis coming into this one, both teams really going to try to feel each other out here in the early going.

But these are two teams that really like to press.

Yet, you know, last year in this five eight championship girls game, there was Collinsville and Stevenson and it was one of the most competitive uptempo games I've seen by two girls teams.

And I think this matchup could match their cherry off.

The mark baseline put back is rattled in there by Charlotte Styles, who has the first points of the game and the lady rebels have the first lead and then Hephzibah out of Hephzibah Georgia south of Augusta.

Back on the other end, the Lady Cherokees counter underneath that was basic basketball giving go.

She gave it to a teammate, cut to the basket, got it back to an easy layup and a steal right there.

Shot up by the shell.

MATTHEWS But off the mark.

And this is a Kendrick team that forces about 25 turnovers a game.

If that tells you anything about the the level of their intensity on defense.

Yeah that's pretty remarkable.

And out of those 2513 of my steals, number 33, Kendrick Smith checking in for Kendrick the first player off the bench for coach Sterling Hicks off the inbound That's it But puts up a shot hits number 23.

Look for you, Terry the five eight sitter five eight maybe a little undersized for a center that she mixes it up shot on the other end off the mark and plenty rattles back the other way again, Candy Phillips, the floor General.

Here's another long range bound by Terry.

This one falls short, kept alive, though, by force.

All right.

You want to talk about another player we're going to focus on here.

It's number 45 for Hephzibah, right?

A six foot listed as a guard, but she can play anywhere on the floor.

And she's a 10th grader who actually, ironically enough, they play one close game this year last night against Westminster.

And she made the winning basket with 11 seconds to play.

A lot of people in play did so right there and the foot back for a shell.

Washington So four or four here in the opening 2 minutes of the game and a timeout here in the corner with a little bit of pressure going on.

That's it.

I want to talk it over there.

Head Coach Lofton with a 32nd timeout call right there and looking forward to it.

Of course, Hephzibah, a state qualifier 14 the last 15 years as we see that save there along the baseline and then that put in there by Washington state.

Yeah clearly this could come down to a game of a war of attrition.

They're going to run back and forth.

It may be the team that has the best defense in the best condition that comes out on top at the end 14 of the last 15 years dating back to 1990.

And they Hephzibah didn't make it in 94.

Did you see agency Wendell Lofton right there, the head coach with an impressive record, 35 years and just a remarkable career there.

And wants to wants to win a state championship before he goes out.

They've been to the finals, as you mentioned, three times, but unable to pull it off.

They don't want any more runner up trophies in that trophy case.

But anything 435 any one thing for 35 years, a long time.

Yeah.

There's a nice looking shot right there by Rachelle Washington.

I'll tell you what happened.

It looks a little tentative against these cuts.

Defense second field goal for Washington.

But back on the other end.

Now that time though, Charlotte Styles answers and she's got four points here in the early going you pass is in Hollis with the dish right there and then Mickey Myrick who got it to go and a steal right there by Mark nearly got the bucket and it will stay with Kendrick The interesting thing about this 2 to 1 full court press is that they'll let you inbound the ball but immediately jump fit with two players and use the baseline on the sideline as a third defender.

And that second pass out of the trap is usually the one that gets picked off three point shot off the mark by the shell.

MATTHEWS Today.

MCKINNEY checking in number five for the first time here tonight and a steal right there as we talk about the Lady Cherokees force a lot of their starters are averaging 13 steals a game on the other end.

Michelle Washington shot off the mark that time and brought down by the lady rebels.

Hensley clearly has an inside advantage in height and size, so it should dominate the rebounding part of his game.

Both teams opening up pretty well, three of six from the field, four of nine respectively.

South from Arc right there, though, one nice look.

That's Danny trying to finish on the other end and does so today McKinney the 511 freshman and we talk about the depth of both these teams Coach Thurman Hicks likes to go to his bench.

They play about ten or 12 players consistently, including some freshman Michel MATTHEWS.

He just made that pass.

Look at that pass led her right to the basket in a position where all she had to do was catch a dribble once to make the layup.

Had he played, she kept the head up to see the entire floor.

And there's the trap again.

That first pass out of the trap is the one that's going to get picked off.

More backcourt pressure.

Rosetta Hollis goes up strong and will earn a trip to the line right there.

Hollis Eccleston in the pre game there.

The 511 Junior has certainly had an excellent season and now as you see her numbers 18 points seven points a game this year and almost ten rebounds and almost five steals in.

The first one is there for Hollis, who has her first point of the night really?

I'm sorry.

The rebels are going to have to make an adjustment on the press twice now.

Already the first pass out of the double team has been picked off for a turnover.

They're going to have to find the middle in a press.

Usually the weak area is the middle where you can run people down the lane, down the sideline.

If you get the ball in a minute, they can barely get the ball in bounds right now and a turnover along that baseline right there, unable to get it in bounds.

And Janine McKinney has come right off the bench here and really disrupted the flow of things defensively, turnovers, Hephzibah, seven turnovers already.

Kendrick Nunn so far, her backcourt pressure certainly getting to the lady rebels here early on as we talk about 25 turnovers a game and there I guess they're about a third of the way there right now.

Seven turnovers in less than 4 minutes is unbelievable and it has to change offensively is going to withstand this competition.

They often pretty soft spoken guy up off the bench right here that's about able to get the ball inside here.

The shot is blocked by Hollis.

The follow is there though, and the nice job of what Johnson check that amber crested number 32 into the lineup Tiffany Drake came in with little a while ago off the bench Hephzibah So a team that plays ten or 12 deep so Washington looking inside out back out to Washington, he hits the three now put on the line two point shot for Rochelle Washington but she's got six this we thought should come to the middle.

Can't even get it to the middle turnover and the corner three point shot that time by Washington who now has nine and Kendrick has got a 17 to 8 first quarter lead.

Brayton on the other end dribbling and knocked away and another block by Rosetta Hollis had to see Drayton right there a 510 senior Wow Got a ball shell Washington has been busy here in the early going at 19 in the first round game against Washington County has been consistent throughout the playoffs off the mark on that three was Latoya Terry's got two so far back on the other end pass a little too tall there it went off the fingertips of Ashley Barley another freshman, Jessie Junior McKinney right there, leaving the floor there momentarily, trying to catch up for that one.

It will be Hephzibah Basketball coach.

Want to go into his bench right here is for the playoffs.

Charlotte Styles checks back into the lineup.

The one thing you have to avoid doing is throwing the ball into the corner.

That's where you help in the deep.

There's right there.

You've got to get the ball in the center of the floor and then run off over that middle of the post with the ball in the middle.

Cammie Phillips with the basketball loses the handle Take It Away by Rochelle, Washington, and then a whistle on Phillips.

As we talk about Cammie Phillips is really the the floor general The coach on the floor is the coach lofted refers to her she's a real leader and really sees the whole floor really well.

But right now it's Kendrick who's seeing the floor and the bucket dropped by nine so Washington pull up jumper rattles it in there and boy, Washington is on fire.

She's got 11 already here.

Charlotte Styles back on the other end moving in there Nice pass off it in right there by Brook Johnson.

That's her second basket off the bench with this team in a game like this Washington on the other end WHISTLE and a foul you're going to get Drayton that's her first You know it's amazing when you look at this Hephzibah team Curtis 14 the last 15 years they've been a state qualifier.

I had to see that last bucket there by Johnson.

But out of those 14 times, they've never lost in the first round.

They've always made it past the first round exactly three times to the championship.

So it's a team that's experience that she had obviously a strong program.

Clarissa Johnson With a three point shot right there.

Johnson, another player off the bench and Coach Hicks is throwing everybody out and everybody's responding in a big way.

This is the first team to feel comfortable out here in this championship environment.

Nwaba hesitates, trying to find his way to Lisa morris with the put back right there.

Morris the six foot sophomore averaging eight points a game is on the board here tonight with the lead is still ten back on the other end barley fires away Ashley barley in the lineup as well and everybody already hit here six different lady Cherokees in the scorebook here so far in this first quarter and we still have 307 left.

Well you can hit from the outside like they're hitting tonight.

It really just opens up your whole game.

You don't have much of an inside game, it looks looks like, but it still makes it available.

If you want to go to steal it is Cherokee basketball here shot one.

Go and take it out of there on the other end.

Turnovers have certainly been a story already, especially for Henson that shot from outside off the mark by styles and a Lady Rebels really haven't had a chance to calm down yet.

Kendrick really jumped on him early here up by a dozen trying to force that pass into that of Hollis right there to take it away.

good lady.

Rebels averaging right around 78 points a game and there is number 45.

Portia White.

Do I really want to step up here tonight?

11 points that she has certainly been one of the main players all year long.

Has it been easy to place a defense here, get a couple of stops?

She only down by ten could have been worse, considering number ten is that they had Sandra Smith from outside, one of the rare misses tonight so far for Kendrick taken out of there by Styles That's a run out of Lopez on the other hand puts up three point shot for Renato Lopez What a good looking play that was.

She saw the defender hit back together.

The self would have been elevated with a beautiful shot, beautiful form, great result.

Lopez, a junior and other player off the bench contributing here tonight.

Both teams have certainly got some big efforts already from their bench and that was taken away what hands right there by Alisa morris dribbling on the other end.

I'll take it off her football bounce and around and it will go back the other way to Kendrick and Lisa got a little happy right there.

I think she probably should have gotten it across the halfcourt line, picked up her dribble and let a guard come and run the offense.

As you see that last three point shot right here by Renato Lopez and beautiful form right there.

So under a minute here left in this opening period, it's been back and forth.

It's been fun.

As you see Hephzibah on a five run the last minute ten lady rebels stalking their way back into this thing after Kendrick jumped on him early.

Look at inside that one, knocked away by Portia White, who had the game winning shot last night against Westminster in the semifinals.

And then Last touch by MATTHEWS right there.

And that's another thing we'll have to watch, too, Curtis, throughout the night.

These two teams played last night, so you got to wonder how their legs are going to be late in that fourth quarter.

Absolutely.

Both coaches are running players in and out of the game.

I think to keep them hydrated, to keep them from wearing themselves out early.

Kendrick defeating Johnson, Gainesville, 6559 and a foul filled game.

It's all Kendrick hit some key free throws down the stretch to pull that one out and see Myrick back on the other end.

Going to get caught for footsteps right there.

Mark, another freshman, You know, as deep as these teams are, they've got tons of upperclassmen.

When you can go all the way down to your freshman and still get the output, it says a lot.

Yeah.

Kendrick only has one senior on the whole team and that's a ratio of shooters.

And she is certainly answer to the a challenge here tonight with 11 first quarter points down at the buzzer too strong and that'll do it and action packed first quarter Hephzibah and Kendrick for the triple-A girls championship.

We'll be right back with quarter number two coming up.

Kendrick up 2417 over HEPS for the year.

We get start as we get set to start quarter number two inside the Macon Coliseum, a big night as championship weekend rolls on here and a big first quarter by the Kendrick Lady Cherokees who jumped out early.

The lady rebels from Hephzibah able to pull back a little bit here and it's still a tight ball game as you see the turnovers and the points off of those turnovers going 12 turnovers for Hephzibah and converting eight points for the Lady Cherokees of Kendrick.

So really taking advantage of that as well.

That's just astounding to make turn to, to make 12 and to force 12 turnovers in the quarter three point shot right off the bat by Renato Lopez is off the mark brought down by lasso MATTHEWS championship weekend roll on from the making policy here tonight Davon Curtis being with you John Nelson fourth slot shot by MATTHEWS off the mark right there kept alive by Washington who had a big first quarter at 11 points are off the mark on that last shot Styles brings it across and Charlotte styles may be one of those players that coach Lofton is going to have to look through there as to how this comes up with another steal.

But traveling and it goes right back.

That's it.

Looking to take advantage of his size advantage inside but post entry passes on the last two efforts were weak and turned over so Hephzibah will inbound trailing 2417 here inside the first minute of the second quarter and a big crowd on hand here tonight.

As expected, these two teams have traveled well again, Hephzibah out of Hephzibah, Georgia and around Augusta is a nice looking shot right there.

Portugal, white and number 45 as we talk about one player to watch here this evening.

Back on the other end, Hollis Knox going home as well.

So just like that, the Lady Cherokee's answer, they've done that a lot tonight here.

So far, Pepsi is hailing the pressure a lot better by going to the middle.

What a pass right there.

A bounce pass into right hitter on stride.

And Portia is another bucket.

She's got six cross court right there and angel rice rice in the lane puts up the shot She's going off the glass brought down by Morris.

What a good play good pass laboratory alone on the other end Terry with four points here and Hephzibah has closed the gap quickly to just a three point game.

Further, I think the rebels have found themselves gotten their feet grounded.

Probably wake up to that kind of pressure.

The board, it took them a moment to really get adjusted to and got the turnover right there.

Cammie Phillips knocked it out and Phillips over on the bench right now, as you see Coach Lofton over on the sideline there and Coach Sterling Hicks, Coach Hicks again talking things over with Michelle Washington.

Rosetta Hollis, That's one of the starters that'll take a breather here.

Kimberly Stamps with the ball on it shot off the mark there by Terry What an aggressive rebound by Porter and back the other way it looks like it would look like White's foot may have been on the line there Hephzibah lady rebels an 11 two run here in the last 5 minutes so quickly closing the gap and you know, that's why they're not 32 in four.

Nothing.

I mean this is a team that's obviously not going to go quiet undefeated on the year and that was knocked away right there.

Another good pass into Terry, who pulled up there and numbers were against her, shot from the corner, miles off the mark.

And we've got a whistle underneath.

See number 4514.

Like as we talked about her Brown for first and that's her first foul on White quite of course with 22 points against Werth County in the elite eight game that's all Hephzibah wins 6961.

And of course the game winning bucket.

As we mentioned last night against Westminster in the semifinals to propel the lady rebels into this championship game.

Shot on the other end, too strong there by Kendra Smith, a six foot sophomore, and Take It Out of There by Terry Latoya Terry doing a nice job of handling the ball right here and going to have a foul on her.

20.

The dynamics of how these two teams create tempo is very interesting.

Kendrick strictly out of full court press.

Absolutely.

Playing straight man to man defense but on every rebound heavy made shot, they're looking to push it across the sea of ivory, picking up her first foul just a moment ago.

Wow.

Have some with the basketball and with a possession right here, three point shot of tying it up and there's a three point shot.

But it's just a little short from Terry.

Both teams really getting a lot of players involved.

Curtis That's one thing I noticed when you look down the score book, you've got this seven different Lady Rebels in the scorebook six, as you mentioned, for Kendrick, Everybody, even everybody off the bench contributing here so far tonight, three point field goals, for six, all the way rebels Kendrick though two of three their numbers a little bit better so the lady rebels certainly want to get it going.

But outside here off the other end blocking foul.

I'm going to be called on Myrick.

She will pick up her second and that'll put Charlotte Styles at the line.

Charlotte did the proof of being there.

She had an angle and she took it aggressively to the basket.

The defender tried to draw, charged but just was not there in time.

Style's 3.2 steals on the year, misses on the first free throw.

She'll have another couple player substitutions.

Angel Rice checking back in along with Rochelle, Washington, who of course had that big first quarter with 11 points.

AJC Style's numbers right there, over 13 points this year.

Those 3.2 steals, as we talked about for the senior.

And if she's the leading scorer at 13 points a game, they have a 75.

That tells you a whole lot about the people out there from Florida as well.

Styles hits on the second.

Yeah Terry you know she's at 13, Portia White's at 11 and Lisa morris is at eight.

So spread the floor.

And that's that's the thing about really both these teams, they don't have that one star that sticks out.

We would have pulled out three or four different people to talk about in the pre game.

They really play as a team.

Is that the and that's what you need to get to the championship level.

Myrick in the backcourt journaling the basketball nearly had it taken away by Lopez Michel Washington pull up jumper good look shot right there nothing but you can tell she's a senior very very poised 13 points you know on the other end Good looking bucket right there Brook Johnson on the receiving end of that pass and the lady rebels with another bucket stay with in here three point game shot off the mark by barley ball also taken away by styles numbers against her though they so far to take the shot go and last touch they say by cherry So back to Kendrick it's interesting to France breaks in succession one play styles made a great play where she drew the defense and made a great pass for an easy layup for Johnson that time with the one on two situations.

She pulled up and took an ill advised shot.

Today.

McKinney back in the lineup for Kendrick Something's got to give here tonight for this force Hephzibah 2935 years for Linda Watson after school no state championships Still looking for that first championship.

A nice pass inside her out there with a shot.

Wouldn't know.

Meanwhile, you've got Kendrick out of the Columbus area and no Columbus area girls basketball team.

No team from Columbus has ever won a state title.

So something's going to give here.

Exactly.

Someone will have a nice, fun ride home.

Someone will be in despair going back.

A lot of storylines in this game and we'll try to get through them throughout the night.

Jon Nelson, courtside with the scoop as well.

We'll check in with him there in a little bit.

nice looking pass right there.

Porsche wide underneath.

Got it knocked away and it will stay with Hephzibah.

Both of these teams are pretty good passing teams.

They haven't done a good job pass it into the post but on the break they keep their heads up by the open teammate.

Not a Lopez three point shot off the mark down on the other end.

Maric alone momentarily.

But back quickly on defense.

They got a piece of that one right there, the 103.

What are you going to do, boy?

A Terry splits them defenders and it counts.

Wow, what a drive by La Toya Terry after she's going to take them all, make the layup and draw the foul.

How in the world I hardly ever see a one on three against and somebody actually make a shot like that Unbelievable when you have a great crossover move but the defense got her 782 to the basket and then concentrated the finish to play six points Pair of rebounds for the senior Terry beating two of those defenders to the hoop and made a move on one guy right around up there and Terry completes the three point play Both these teams are good at the foul line especially Hephzibah and look over in the lead now and just like that Michelle Washington puts it right back with 15 points.

Still a one point game here, 3029 with 3 minutes left in the first half tenths of a really has found herself the press doesn't bother it any more is just playing his normal game now it's going to get a trip right there foul going to be on 32 Rosetta Hollis for team fouls apiece now Gary Phillips will inbound it and Lopez on the drive to the ball Good pass and good ball movement right here by the lady rebels fortunate right on the receiving end of another good bounce pass this great fundamental basketball keeping you hit it bounce pass to the big man inside easy later and knocked away in a turnover this time goes to the lady rebels forced inside and a shot by Lisa morris is off the mark but Hephzibah with a one point leader 3130 they trailed early in this game.

Kendrick really came out on top really.

It was in double figures and that one was partially blocked right there.

Possession will stay with Kendrick.

I remember it being 24 to 12 and they can Hephzibah was in trouble but just like that they saw they saw the mystery, the real difficult mystery of their press.

And now they're getting in, getting into all the things that they want to get into, which is pushing the ball and finding it, sharing the basketball with the with the open teammates stance inbounds it three point shot off the mark by MATTHEWS.

He was open couldn't get the shot to go look at a back court pressure right here Hephzibah will get it across.

You know we talk about the depth the lady rebels with 20 bench teams and that elite eight game against North County and a shot rattles home right there by Charlotte Styles after the miss fouls kept it alive and hit it back on the other end Kimberly Stamps with the basketball in the hands of Smith, every shot is off the block.

They're off the iron.

And both these teams really run it up and down the floor here.

The kid is going to have to get some of the starters back in there.

And it's been a fast first half so far here with a minute and a half left, rattles off the rim right there.

And Kendrick now finds themselves down by three, one of the rare times they've been behind Tonight.

And Lady Cherokees working the ball around here hidden away beautiful pass inside the Geneva kiddy again textbook fundamental play head fake one dribble go to defense and then this to an open teammate for an easy shot or pressure right here Kendrick really making half of the work to bring the ball up the floor here tonight but the way the rebels have answered it, you see the field for 15 of 34 and 1434.

So pretty much an even game.

And that translates on the scoreboard and salute two equally matched teams, equal least equal desire.

And both would love to play at a rapid pace.

7070 shots so far here 36 to 34 pretty much on the board.

Hephzibah Agassi for sure.

Why eight points, eight rebounds here in the early going, but missing on the first.

And an uncharacteristic miss right there, Hephzibah.

A very good foul shooting team as we talk about the player substitutions here.

Clarissa Johnson comes in for Kendrick a59 junior.

The second one also off the mark, by the way, but kept alive, though, underneath by Amber Preston and a shot is there for the lady rebels.

Wow what a job underneath for some offensive rebounds And we've got a box out there and can't give another opportunity that was all about effort and desire.

So back on the other end here, 22 seconds left.

Michelle MATTHEWS puts up the shot hits good look.

Good shot right there.

Really nice.

Didn't penetrate too far and stopped at the foul line.

Easy shot for a good shooter and it looks like they're going to get Preston right there for the foul with 11 seconds left here.

Curtis move right along in this trip away, Champion Chip.

Yeah.

These guys don't even call a time out to get their plays.

3534.

That's the bit with a one point lead as Curtis mentioned, trailed by as many as 12 early on in that first quarter.

And they have come storming back.

And the key is they've been able to cut down on all those turnovers that we saw early on.

Absolutely.

So.

MATTHEWS On the other end, time runs out.

Washington lost track of the clock there.

But what a first half we've got four in Macon tonight, 35 to 34.

The Hephzibah Lady rebels, number one, an undefeated in the state with a one point lead over the Kendrick Lady Cherokees.

Let's throw it down to John Nelson standing by with coach.

Thank you, Dave here with the coach.

It was definitely two separate games in the first half of this game.

First quarter was there, second quarter was out.

What was the difference?

Weakside playing a little deep in that.

And also it seemed like you got adjusted to their press.

At the same time, the long outlet pass is to create easy.

And also we started to penetrate and we started attacking the basket.

Now you look at this, this is pretty much what you expected.

Two teams that were going to be in each other's faces for the entire 32 minutes.

Good team to great team.

So any kind of adjustments, are you just pretty much going to keep doing what you've been doing or you're going to keep it all under your head?

Not tell me.

I'm not going to tell you.

Okay.

But I'll be back after this thing is over.

I'll be back and talk to you.

Promise?

I promise.

Thanks, Coach.

Coach Lofton, He's not going to tell me any secrets.

Guys, what about the two of you?

Well, I don't know.

We'll take a timeout and be back with halftime festivities coming up.

Welcome back to the Macon Coliseum.

We are at halftime of the girls triple AA championship, Hephzibah leading Kendrick 3534.

Jim Tanaka with you on championship weekend.

As we roll on with more and more action here on GPB now let's go courtside and Jon Nelson Johnny Thank you Jim we are here at recess, but instead of the principal's office, we're also now in the doctor's office because I'm surrounded by two doctors.

Doctor, who have had to be Doctor Barnwell of Kendrick.

We're going to go Ladies first.

Dr. Barnwell, Eddie's come back in a second.

And I've also been joined by a very special guest, one of Coach Lofton granddaughters.

This is Kaitlyn Kaitlyn's going to help out the interview and probably steal my job in about ten years.

Let's talk about Hephzibah.

Hi.

For those who aren't familiar with Georgia geography as the crow flies, whereas Hephzibah Hephzibah is in the south part of Richmond County near Augusta, Georgia.

We are Richmond County School District School, and we're the most rural and southern school in the district.

Now talk about what Coach Lofton has meant to the program.

He's been there 35 years, 29, and said he's renowned not only Georgians, but I think in America he is a man of great character.

He believes strongly in his faith and he really takes these students under his wing as a father figure, not only as a coach, but a great teacher, great guide.

Now, one hang on just a second, Kaitlyn, let me ask you about your grandfather real quick.

What do you think about your grandfather?

I think he's a great man.

It's teaching basketball and I hope he was a champion this year.

We've been calling good him all week for him to win the championship.

And we hope they do.

And we hope that everybody in Georgia can help us for him to pray for him.

Okay.

You're going to be his PR agent when you grow up.

That, too.

Let's talk about what else is going on at Hephzibah High that people may not necessarily know about what is going on at HHS, perhaps the high schools, the best kept secret in America.

I'm first year principal this year and we have had lots and honors from the time I arrived, starting with the Governors Cup coming off of last year's SAT scores all the way to a great, great seasons in our athletic events, as well as our ROTC and other activities.

I'm just proud to be a member of such a school of character.

I'll have to say, if one thing that is remarkable to me is how well the students respond to their leadership and their teachers.

Okay, hang out just a second.

We're going to change sides here and talk to Dr. Barnwell, who says he's six, five and a half.

We're going to rounded up two, six, six.

I almost got a chair to do this interview, talk about what's been going on at Kendrick in the ride.

It's been this year for that school, man.

New things.

All girl teams are wonderful this year.

We're very proud of them.

And the coach academic side, we have a new program starting in six or seven.

Well, early college, but Child earned a high school diploma and two years of college at the same time.

And you don't see a lot of that these days.

No.

We trying to reform high school and make it really move for our students.

Okay, then look at that program for me a couple of years down the line.

What would you like to see that evolve into about following the kids in the program and kids being able to finish high school and to go to college within the four or five year period?

All right.

Talk about the women's program for me a little bit, The girls program.

It's been a great ride.

We're trying to build a program, you know, one on one in the program.

We're trying to build a program to have a series of wins over the years.

That's my goal.

And this and that.

And on that note, one gentleman who's taller than I am, I'm going to leave the doctor's office and send it back to Jim.

Good to talk to you again.

I thank you, John.

I appreciate that.

Good to see you.

Survive the doctor's office.

We're in for a great second half of the one point game at the house.

So let's turn it back over to Dave Garner and Curtis Bunn.

All right.

Thanks, Jim.

And, by the way, John Nelson, I think Kaitlyn is definitely a candidate for your job in another ten years or so there.

But Curtis, what a great first half of basketball by both teams.

We saw Kendrick jump out early and of course, Hephzibah came back to close the Gap and took the lead and they lead it here at the half.

And just what an action packed first half with a lot of highlights.

Yeah, I think John's point that it was two games in two different quarters was exactly right after the starter a very shaky lead could not handle the press and eventually found itself and got right back into the game.

That's the name of Kenny.

Get an inside basket off the fast break.

And that play right there was just sheer hustle.

Amber Preston scrambling for the ball and making the layup man ratio.

Johnson was high.

She was in Washington rather was hitting from the outside.

There's another game she was beautiful for and made great the second game And that's another beautiful shot right there by Renato Lopez That was a three down And there's Washington again.

It looked so easy for her the only thing on Kansas team and it's a beautiful one individual play right there by the corner three between three defenders Look at that inside pass by Lopez and the benefactor right there was push away and that's just a very nice play.

Fundamental play has got the head fake nice dish for the easy baskets guys You see the halftime stats again our score it's a one point game 3534.

Look at the field goal 16 of 36, 15 of 35 44%, 43% respectively.

That reflects on the scoreboard, three point shots, a little bit of work there for the lady rebels, just one of ten to a four for Kendrick, who's not thought of as a three points team there to see it rebounds, turnovers and of course, so ending the first half on a 23 to 10 run.

So indeed, a great game here so far from the American Coliseum, the triple-A Girls state Championship and we knew it would be a good game coming in.

We thought it might be the game of the weekend and so far it certainly lived up to the hype.

Yeah, absolutely.

And again, I just focus back on the rebels turnovers.

They only had two in the second quarter, 12 in the first.

That's a big about face and I think it's reflected in the score.

The lady rebels getting some big efforts from LaGuardia Terry Charlotte Styles we talked about in the pre game there a little bit Let's go and throw it on down to John Nelson standing by with coach the other half of the equation Dave here with coach Hicks definitely two different halves if you want to call it that in the first half.

Definitely the first quarter we came out and we played the way we were capable of playing second quarter.

We kind just made dumb mistakes and I know that at one point you were trying to tell them that it's okay to go out and pull out for a jump shot if it's there, even though you still want to work it down the floor and pound it inside when you came.

Right.

We want to get the ball inside.

But if you're open for the jump shot, you have to take it.

We just missed 2 minutes.

Coach Hicks, good luck in the second half.

Thanks for your time.

And that's it for the first half.

Back to Dave and Curtis.

All right.

Thanks, John.

Let's go to break and come right back.

We'll be back with the third quarter from the Macon Coliseum.

Coming up, the Kendrick High cheerleaders in the house here tonight, but it's perhaps a bit lady rebels who lead it by a point, 3534 as we get set to tip off the second half here from the Macon Coliseum and the 2005 triple-A girls state championship game.

Dave Garner, Curtis Bunn with you along with John Nelson courtside here tonight and an exciting first half and hopefully the second half will live up to that.

I think it will, absolutely.

It's going to be interesting to see whether Kendrick gets discouraged because his press is not as effective as it had been.

Kendrick's point leaders again, Washington with 15 a huge first half, Hollis with six and McKinney with four.

And the Lady Cherokee is will open up the half with the basketball trailing by one and teams trying to pick right back up where they left off shot off the mark there from Rosetta Hollis and Hephzibah with a turnovers were certainly big in the first half as we see the point leaders for Hephzibah again white with eight styles and Terry with seven apiece in that first half that was a blown opportunity for an easy basket right there Great pass by Washington Hollis just couldn't handle that would knocked away right there good defense Lisa morris puts up a shot and will draw the foul from Hollis early on in the game again Hephzibah got off to a slow start there with all those turnovers.

It was like seven or nothing on the turnover total there in favor of Kendrick.

But the lady rebels, despite that, able to work their way back as you see Morris with two points here tonight, three rebounds, just a sophomore, but certainly some size around at six feet tall.

Some of that early.

those early turnovers could have been nerves.

I mean, in the championship game, a lot of people looking there, He didn't make McCollum see him and it didn't happen.

We see now they may be a little nervous free throw.

They're off the mark.

And back on the other end.

Michelle MATTHEWS, good ball handler for Kendrick, brings it up the floor.

That's for show.

Washington puts up the shot and misses on her first attempt.

But Hollis is there for the follow up eight points for Rosetta Hollis Lady Cherokees with a one point lead here to open half inside the first minute of this third quarter, 3635 and take it away right there by Hollis who will pull up let her teammates catch up.

Washington pull up jumper no good and styles down with it two on one back on the other end a little bounce pass Cammie Phillips brings it back out Phillips really doesn't shoot the ball, which is really more of the traditional point guard that really dishes it to everybody else, creates those opportunities.

Terry's a shooter, but off the mark on that one.

MATTHEWS Back the other way quickly down to the floor.

But the pass unable to handle the rebound.

Angel Rice on the other end here, Terry misses another shot.

Both teams are just up and down the floor right now.

He's getting a little sloppy and a little out of rhythm.

Both sides right now going to be on Latoya Terry, her first for the lady Rebels, their team's first here in the second half.

Some player substitutions as Amber Preston checks back in over 32.

You run out of Lopez in the lineup as well for Hephzibah here, life coach Sterling Hicks in his fourth year with Kendrick.

Mostly a handle on that one right there.

Did MATTHEWS back on the other end styles gets it up and the foul for Charlotte Styles chance for a three point play.

Kessler does a great job of pushing the ball ahead through passes that time that what she wasn't able to grab the ball but she pushed it in here watch it 43, push it ahead.

And Styles was able to gather it and go for the basket and draw the foul.

MATTHEWS With her first fouls you these styles numbers nine points, six rebounds the senior had hits right there to make it ten on the night so styles the first lady rebel to reach double figures as she completes the three point play right there and it's 3830 6a2 point Hephzibah lead back on the other end here quickly down on the other end, a shot and boy Hollis nearly got that one to go but she will draw the foul going to be called Andre in her second the result Johnson is a nice pass.

She made that great pass in the first half where she did.

You find up in the air and wrap it around for a layup and?

That time she just scooped the two her teammate right there for an easy shot.

Hollis after line hits on the first.

She'll have another and Hollis will have a chance to end her double figures here early in this third quarter.

As you see, nine points and eight rebounds for the junior and hits right there.

So ten points.

She joins her teammate, Rochelle Washington, in double figures here tonight.

As you see Washington reenter the lineup for Kendrick.

The Lady Cherokees came out tonight and in their warm ups pretty much summed it up on their t shirts.

You can't spell Cherokee without the word hero standing right in the middle.

And that's pretty much what the Lady Cherokees are going to try to do.

You hear that?

After what I shot right there, my spouse once again has great body control, but she was going a little too fast.

But she compose herself and then to make the basket, it was away from the bucket there a little bit, shot off the mark, put back walk, go.

Another opportunity right here and a foul going to be called on.

Preston.

It looks like that'll be her second and both teams really getting the second or third opportunities.

They've been able to get a lot of put backs here tonight particularly.

Kendrick Yeah, both teams were fast and scrappy and played hard and really have a desire to get the basketball and that's what it takes.

The first one is there for MATTHEWS That last foul actually going to call it on Victoria Birch, a 511 senior, had to see MATTHEWS numbers this year, just over 12 points a game, 3.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists and two steals to go along with that and hits the second free throw.

And we're all tied up once again.

She's a good heady player 40 all here with 523 left in the third period of the Macon Coliseum here tonight.

Championship weekend rolling on and we've got a good one outside shot short by styles off the side of the iron there and Washington trying to counter back on the other end kicks it out three point shot MATTHEWS short but kept alive by barley back inside and a good one a turnaround right there by Hollis.

Nice strong post-up move.

She elevated straight up Hollis with 12 points tonight.

Now some backcourt pressure, about half.

So they want to get it across.

And from the other corner Lopez off the mark lot a whistle going to be called underneath here and you see styles who is picking her name up here with a dozen points Rochelle Washington of course two here of the first half scoreless so far this third quarter, but 15 at the break.

Well, the Cherokees have called up their full court press a 2 to 1.

They call so many turnovers in the first quarter.

They're now just going straight man to man.

Field Court Kendra Smith in the lineup for Kendrick comes in for Richard Hollis, who will take a breather now.

Amber Preston with the ball up top styles looking inside Great move right there.

Wow that is a big center who look really agile on that move.

Kendrick, quickly back down on the other end here, 40 to 42 for 20 left third, you see Michelle MATTHEWS handling the basketball dominant in the lineup.

Number 21, Washington off the dribble feeds.

MATTHEWS MATTHEWS nearly lost a handle on it And you going to get a hips of a foul underneath there.

Looks like Portia White, 45% white with her second foul here.

And that's going to be four on the lady Rebels team fouls three team fouls on Kendrick Washington inbounds at end of the corner wide open as Myrick who knocks down a two point shot just inside the arc after 2 to 1 and it forces the turnover shot by MATTHEWS misses ball loose no whistle.

WASHINGTON Inside to McKinney who draws the foul.

These are some athletes out here not only playing hard but playing smart for the most part, definitely showing a will to win here.

And that's going to be 3000 Portia White.

So she's got to be careful.

Again, one of the leading players, as you see McKinney at the line here, her numbers for points of two rebounds tonight for the freshman and hits on the first free throw others Brooks Johnson number 25 and 510 senior stepping in for Hephzibah McKinney try to make it two of two right here at the stripe to put Kendrick up by four and she does so six points tonight for Ginnie McKinney and the good job of coaching by Coach Hicks with Kendrick Meek.

The defense is up probably low, have to go through a false sense of security that that pressure would not come back.

And so she's brought it back the last couple of possessions really giving them trouble, letting rebels inbound it from midcourt right here, get it in the press.

PRESTON That's number 51 of the lineup there in that ball might have been partially tipped from LaGuardia theory and Lady Cherokees trying to strike here on the other end.

That's Rochelle, Washington.

And a big long shot right there.

The clock is not running here.

So I don't know if the officials have noticed that yet or not.

It's stuck on 340 Bazemore and there's number 25 Brook Johnson answering on the other end she's made some nice contributions off the bench Kyrie back on the other end as a knocked away by Alisa morris of pecans right there what you see Myrick number 21 another freshman a lot of younger players on this Kendrick lot up player substitutions here Ashley Barley number 12 in Angel Rice number 11 back into the lineup 50 to Tiffany Drayton of Hephzibah checking back in and Myrick inbounds in to Barley what a pass right there and a great look inside to angel rice and that's Rice's first bucket of the night this nice unselfish textbook fundamental basketball a six point game and a near turnover right there.

Ball still loose on the floor finally picked up by Lopez and they're going to get Myrick looks like with the body scrambling for that loose ball and a lot of hustle here tonight Kendrick's number 20.

But Kendrick slowly trying to pull away this game here a little bit.

It's a six point game.

It really hadn't been any further apart, the two or three points here.

Good bit of the second quarter into the third.

There's a nice tough shot by Tyreek.

He drives the ball to the basket.

She's really tough.

She hasn't hit much on the perimeter.

Three point shot miracle after point and of course to see Coach Hicks average number of performers going to be on Angel Rice her first foul five team fouls now you see the field goals 19 of 4420 of 47, both of them at 43% right here, 91 shots they've thrown up here tonight.

That's just remarkable.

Very evenly played game to this point.

245 left here in the third quarter.

Got to maybe an extra minute or two with that clock not run in there and that just allow these two teams to score more points.

There's another three point shot by Terry.

She hit from the outside that time and here turnover right there and Kendrick's had a few three point shots tonight.

As we mentioned, this is not regarded any way as a three point team, but they hit five, three point shots in the third quarter of the semifinal game last night and that win over Johnson, Gainesville.

So Kendrick can shoot from outside a steal right there all alone and out of Lopez lays it out.

But in five points for Renato Lopez the junior handsome in transition right there getting the easy look and the rebels take the lead again I mean it was just a six point game about 14 seconds ago it seemed like announced a one point lead for Hephzibah here on a bit of a run right here.

Kendrick on the other end misses the shot and they're going to say it was last touch by the Lady Cherokees there.

It went out without being touch on the shot there to see MATTHEWS reenter the game.

Players are coming and going in and out of the line.

Yeah, it's busier than Hartsfield-Jackson Airport with the way these players are going in and out of the game.

And that's saying something with every whistle.

But out of Lopez is the press.

That's a bad place to have it Good pass to the middle, though.

I haven't seen a lot of press early in this game.

a pass knocked away and a foul going to be called it looks like on Ginny McKinney.

McKinney, a 511 freshman as well as James Terry, made another strong move to the basket that time with a nice pass.

But it was so nice their teammates weren't ready for it to see Kendra Smith right there.

Now in the lineup, a six foot sophomore, certainly some size floating around out there tonight.

A couple of six footers on both sides of the net.

Kendrick doesn't have a player, only one play on shorter than five seven 5150.

We've been treated to quite a ballgame here tonight.

It's moved along at 142 on the clock here in the third as we start to get late and as we do get later, Curtis, we're going to see the intensity really start to pick out between both of these teams because it's going to be on the line in that fourth quarter.

Absolutely.

You play 32 minutes of basketball and it can come down to the final 32 seconds, three point shot off the mark, but the cutback won't go by.

Burch kept alive by Lopez.

He throws it up behind the backboard here and just tough off balance shot right there and certainly don't want to force anything to see Lopez with five points here tonight matching her jersey number this coach Linda Lofton a class act looking for that first state championship been with the school 35 years, 29 as head coach.

He sounded in talking with talking to John that he expected to win the championship at halftime.

Yeah confident coming into the season Terry on the other end throws it up.

Wow, what a shot right there.

It didn't look like she had much of a chance on that one.

But 14 points for La Terry again.

When she goes to the basket, she somehow has an innate ability to control herself.

And now we have a skirmish.

Things are heating up out there as this thing stays within three under a minute left in the third.

You want to keep it under control right here.

But I'll tell you what, this is the state championship.

This is what it's all about.

Fans starting to get into it a little bit more here as well.

You see the coaches first.

Yeah.

I mean, the bottom line is everybody wants to win and these young ladies are very competitive.

They understand the magnitude of the occasion and they're going after AJC coach Hicks talking things over there with Kendrick, who has allowed their seventh team foul here.

So Hephzibah and the bonus here shooting the one and one and Latoya Terry Pitts on the front in there so she'll have another.

And so the fourth quarter, you know, we've seen a very fast game here, but teams reach reaching the bonus here in the third quarter.

Things may slow down a little bit.

You see Terry's numbers the way two teams close the quarter is significant.

We had a one point game a minute ago.

Now.

Kessler was up by with 54 seconds left.

Kendrick cannot afford to let it get away right here.

Well, Kendrick was up by six just a few minutes ago.

And now, as you mentioned, Hephzibah is up by five for an 11 point swing right there, Aaron.

a70 run for the lady rebels and that one taken away right there.

Lopez on the other end lays it up too strong off the glass tiles on the fall it won't go but again capitalize towns a turnaround three opportunities and finally a whistle on the floor And I believe they're going to get Brook Johnson for the foul right there may have got over the back there a little bit and back to Kendrick Styles emotions got the best of her right there on that second attempt.

She didn't have to force that shot off of off balance, falling backward and she didn't hit the rim.

She could have dribbled out, reset things, 16,000 Hephzibah.

So they still have one more to give here.

We're talking about Coach Sterling Hicks.

He did something kind of interesting in the first round game against Washington County.

They weren't performing in the third quarter the way you wanted to.

He eight all five starters.

He sat him on the bench.

You played some of the younger folks for a couple minutes.

That was kind of a wake up call for this Kendrick team who came in.

The starters came back at about 2 minutes later.

Needless to say, they were ready to play.

And since that point in the first round of the state tournament, they have pretty much played about as well as you could have asked them.

Shot off the mark there by Clarissa Johnson, who's in the lineup as the final seconds tick away in this third quarter.

And we've got ourselves a ballgame hitting in the final 8 minutes from the Macon Coliseum.

It's 55 to 50, Hephzibah, with a five point lead over Kendrick.

We'll take a timeout, step aside, be right back.

But the fourth and final quarter, we return to her just like the Dragonfly from the trees over the sea.

All the grace to anyone fans going wild here inside the Macon Coliseum.

Let's go courtside to John Nelson.

Let's spoke to both coaches in between the quarters.

Kendrick was telling their players and asking them, do you want it badly enough?

It was simply coming down to that.

For Kendrick, perhaps the most concerned Coach Lofton was working on mechanics, four players, four sinking shots, completely in total control.

All right, John, there's a scoop right there.

Again, Hephzibah ending the third quarter on a national run.

Certainly, it fueled the fire here.

Both sets of fans on their feet here tonight.

Both sets of fans have traveled well as expected, as we get set for the final 8 minutes of play in this one.

And it's still a ball game they have garnered Curtis Bond with you along with John Nelson courtside as you see the turnovers there in the first 4 minutes.

And since then, Hephzibah has cut down tremendously.

Meanwhile, Kendrick, bad news for them, 13 turnovers since we open up the fourth quarter of the state championship here in class.

Triple A on the girls side is on the line seven Portia White may have got away with it, but missed the shot anyway.

And Kendrick pulls it down here trailing by five Angel Rice feeding Rosetta Hollis inside and a foul.

Looks like Charlotte Styles.

Well that's only the first foul on Styles tonight Kendrick Washington to warm up again she was the microwave in the first half hitting everything from the outside 15 points at the break and has not made a shot from the outside in the second half is that a Hollis with a dozen here tonight and eight rebounds this is on the first two hits on the second line.

Kendrick has been near-perfect on free throws here tonight.

Of course, Hollis missing on the first one.

They've gotten it down to the line.

That's kind of the bio on hats.

It, if you will.

Is there good foul shooting team and now a lot of depth and there's a turnover right there back the other way but you just you kind of have that feel it here Curtis with seven and a half minutes left it seems to come down to the final possession.

Absolutely.

I don't think either team is good enough to pull away completely from the other back on the other end.

Nice drive there by MATTHEWS but couldn't get the shot to fall and it will go back to.

HEPHZIBAH Right here.

I just see Cammie Phillips, who's been relatively quiet tonight, but has certainly made her presence felt, though, distributing the basketball.

She really gets it into her teammates hands for those open shots.

And what about Portia Wright working underneath again, effort, energy and desire right there.

Just pull that rebound away with one hand and then put it back up with the other.

Wide a six foot junior, 22 points and they lead eight against Werth County.

We talked about Kendrick forcing 25 turnovers a game.

I had to see that one.

She's strong off the glass right there.

But Hephzibah forced 29 turnovers in their first round game against Monroe area.

During the game, John Low just couldn't get the shot to fall.

Still just a 6.2 possession game right here for Kendrick Lady Cherokees looking for some offense, six and a half to go and where will it come from?

Washington has to be that person.

Michelle Washington was 15 at the break but held scoreless in that third quarter.

And we're going to have a whistle on the floor right here.

Both teams in the bonus with 17 fouls apiece here.

See Coach Hicks second foul on Charlotte Styles and that's going to be 18 fouls now actually on Hephzibah and you see number 12 Ashley Barley, a freshman back in the lineup.

And once again Rosetta Hollis finds herself back at the line here with 13 points and nine rebounds tonight.

What a big night for the junior, as you say, with both teams in the bonus, they could slow down quite a bit.

Missed on the free throw right there and regulatory has it in the hands of Morris he takes it across the time line there ball taken away by Michelle MATTHEWS who pushes the floor two on four on the other end.

MATTHEWS is going to draw the foul right there.

And as you see Terry trying to say that she got to she got the ball there, but I believe they might call that one orange.

Lisa morris Anyway, what a difference in that play on one end Style took it into a defense where she had no advantage here.

MATTHEWS had an angle, went to the basket aggressively and got the call.

And they are going to get Terry for the foul.

Her second, as you see, almost a wholesale substitution on both sides there.

Tiffany Drake, number 52 in the lineup, as you see.

MATTHEWS numbers six points and four rebounds hits on the free throw right there.

So 57, 52 with 6 minutes to go here.

And this is what you want right here first got a big crowd on hand.

There's a steal right there by Michelle Washington who puts up a tough shot.

Going to be short right here, follows her own shot.

And with all the foul.

Wow.

Right back to the foul line again, three girls, coaches talk about them all the time.

You had to make them in this.

This is the opportunity for Kendrick to cut into that deficit at the foul line for the third straight time.

The first one is there for Washington.

He scores her first points since the first half.

As you see Charlotte Styles, check back in.

She'll come in for.

Latoya Terry who will take a breather Washington tonight for the season 13.9 and she's fourth well above that here this evening And it's on the second free throw.

So 17 points now for Rochelle, Washington.

Washington with 19 in the first round against Washington County, the 74 to 43 win is pretty much kept that pace going throughout the tournament.

Kendrick playing across town, Columbus early on in the third round, their shot off the mark there.

And that was a 37 to 30 game.

Columbus really slowed down the tempo in that game.

They're trying to do something different.

They had already played Kendrick several times throughout the season and nothing really had worked and they were still able to pull it out there by seven.

Lady Cherokees have rolled right into the state tournament on Fire and Rochelle MATTHEWS with another field goal right there from nine points and it's back to a one point game, 57 to 56.

Neither team will go away.

Lopez off the on the foul line for Drayton and pull down Angel Rice from the fans.

He's not doing it he looks at it out of one lane Wow that's just ahead.

He played it.

Nobody stopped the ball.

Players had to head back to the ball and she just ran right at them back for Julio MATTHEWS on the finish right there.

Kendrick on an eight two run in the last 3 minutes.

And this is the man.

It's been a game of love, runs all nylon.

Let's he had to go with eight runs.

KENDRICK With six out runs.

It's just gone back and forth all night.

Great action.

Great guys is just, you know, a great, great display of will and determination, as you see.

Well, Shell MATTHEWS finishing as we said there on the on the end and the Lady Cherokee fans in the house here tonight all decked out.

Well, this championship game can also be viewed live on the GPB Internet site around the world at WW W dot GPB dawg Just follow the links to connect to the game.

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

That's w WW dot gpb dot org.

Always enjoy watching it.

I know Jon Nelson is watching himself on the archived video.

Now we've got a one point game right here under 5 minutes to play.

It's been a great game to watch.

A lot of excitement, great pace, both sets of fans really into it, actively chanting, cheering, screaming, run here a turnover on the inbound right there.

And now the lady rebels seem in control early on.

Find themselves down by one foul right there.

Lisa morris nearly got a chance at a three point play, but she will earn a trip to the line.

Very nice.

Strong move.

You decide the well, her body, which she spun into the lane, she separate herself from the defender.

They begin to set up a gear foul and a free throw right there by Morris That's going to be 4000 Rosetta Hollis and Hollis has been one of the leading scorers tonight.

As you see Julius at the line here with five points and four rebounds tonight with the score and rattles the second one home and Hollis with those four fouls averaging over 18.7 points a game this year, she's got to be careful she's been in and almost picked up one right there fouls turnover on the other end puts up a tough shot hits Charlotte Styles with 14 her own here tonight just feel it's just attacking always so Hephzibah down by one now back up to 6158 to show Washington on the other end shot won't go Danny Phillips out of there really just one opportunity that time for Kendrick a lot of offensive rebounding here three point shot out now Lopez it's there that's a second three she's a wonderful spot up shooter great form and great confidence Lopez with eight tonight and it's a 6458 Hephzibah lead with under 4 minutes to go so MATTHEWS on the other end lofts it off her foot it looks like and the ball will go back over to Hephzibah as take another look at it.

Here's a three point shot from Lopez Phillips finding the open teammate.

That's her forte in this LOPEZ for three.

And it looks like we're going to have a time out on the floor.

A 32nd timeout now going to be called by Hephzibah and Coach Wendell Lofton as later able Rebels talk things over here up by six.

But as we know, a six point lead is nothing in this game.

Both teams have shown the ability to raise any kind of deficit in a hurry is really the kind of pace that we anticipated.

And I don't think any other team is going to back away.

Well, they're still 348 and the clock, but in another minute or so, the time will kind of become a factor here, especially for the trailing team.

As you see the lady rebels on a72 run in the last one or two of this game.

And that's pretty much the story here tonight.

It's been a game of runs, been a game, a momentum that's gone back and forth.

I get the feeling kids will go back to that 2 to 1 basket full court press after the scores to try to get to create turnovers.

Fans have filed in here tonight, filled this place up in the making.

Coliseum has hosted championship basketball for many years now.

Just a man to man press right here, though, off the mound, Lady rebels break it and get it down to four in a hurry.

Morris It taken away by MATTHEWS so MATTHEWS kicks it out falling now three point shot to show Washington off the Mark but MATTHEWS is there for the follow up and in and MATTHEWS with an easy look right there.

No defense.

I think freshman Ashley Bar, he got to hang in there to keep that ball alive.

He has.

MATTHEWS Again, with the steal in going back to the line, Cammie Phillips fouling right there, preventing what would have been probably an easy two point shot.

So that could prove to be a good foul for Phillips, who picks up her third, as you see the steal right there.

And wow, play.

He's playing such a heady, smart and effective, efficient game.

But you got to hit those free throws.

So that's the only thing.

Yeah, he had been to this point and you see.

MATTHEWS 13 points, five rebounds.

Angel Rice back in the lineup for Kendrick MATTHEWS with a made free throw here to cut it to a one possession game.

And she does it right there.

And the lady rebels quickly off the inbound, get it down the floor.

They're not going to allow themselves to be trapped in the corner.

Booya, Terry, with the basketball driving and this is inside to morris for you.

Terry off the dribble is almost unstoppable.

Lisa morris eight points tonight and she's the beneficiary of a great move to the basket and a nice unselfish play.

And she did her job by finishing MATTHEWS trying to counter on the other end puts up a tough shot right there kept alive though, by Rice to go hammer no call Barkley had it taken away and Terry again across midcourt 6661 two and a half to play now the clock will begin to play into things here a little bit as Coach Window often calls a full time out with 231 left in regulation.

And I say regulation because you never know.

We could be playing some extra hoops here.

You see the last basket coming at you right here.

It's Terry again drawing defenders in addition to her teammate Loba, and she finishes there, Young lady's going to be a player.

Lisa morris, a sophomore.

She is going to be a player averaging eight points.

As I mentioned, a lot of younger players really playing into both sides here.

Of course, Kendrick using a lot of freshmen.

We know the starters, as we mentioned, averaging 13 steals a game for Kendrick, but they're forcing 25 a game.

So obviously those other steals and that other intensity is coming from somewhere else.

Absolutely.

These young ladies have gotten great support from the bench, which is which is pivotal in any game, but particularly in a game with in this with this kind of pace where fatigue can set in.

And speaking of, I mean, we talked about that early on here tonight, back to back nights of basketball.

Both these teams played semifinal games last night, so maybe neither one with an advantage or disadvantage since they both had to play.

But you got to wonder how it's going to play into things here in the last two and a half.

Right now, though, it's all about adrenalin as that one's taken away by MATTHEWS And then to the floor right there it goes, Mark.

But no call ball still alive.

They're taken out of there by Terry.

They made up for the turnover by blocking the shot.

Hephzibah up by five, trying to take care of the basketball right now and all of a sudden the clock will become a factor for Kendrick, who may be forced to foul here in a little bit, Moore is going to take the shot rebound ball, but still loose would hustle play and a jump ball for possession Ero kendrick Wow who would hustle play by a big young lady who understands that every possession in a championship game matters, particularly now up by five.

With less than 2 minutes to go check out the hustle right here.

You love to see bodies hitting the floor.

These girls are going at it tonight.

Five point game Kendrick trailing but with the basketball and almost do or die right here they need something what a play take away right there on the other end Charlotte style shot long goal the follow and Portia White going to draw the foul and you would think that Henson was down by five the way they're running the floor Yeah they're going to play to their strength with just pushing the ball pushing it that was a good foul by the freshman right there.

Ashley Barnes, who made a good pass early in the game, surprising she's in the game at this magnitude, at this late in the game as a ninth grader.

32nd timeout called by Coach Sterling Hicks and the Kendrick Lady Cherokees as you see the crowd that is fouled in here tonight and made this an exciting basketball game right here on GPB.

And of course, I want to thank our entire crew for hanging in there for the long weekend and it's been exciting to see all the guys in the truck nonstop basketball over the course of the weekend.

And what a way to top it off here with triple play action inside the Macon Coliseum especially the guys and videotape And we've seen we've seen some of our camera guys take some shots here.

I tell you what, right along that baseline, that's dangerous stuff.

But they stick their nose right back in.

There you go.

That part of the joke taken a charge there.

But here we go with free throws again, being so significant, forceful wide at the line and hits 11 points tonight for Portia, the six foot junior, 13 points tonight with 11 rebounds.

This is on the second free throw and brought down by Hollis.

So it's a six point game.

It's still a two possession game overall knocked away they're nearly turned it over.

Rochelle, Washington who has been relatively quiet here in this second half and another time out on the floor going to be called by Coach Hicks 15 points for Rochelle, Washington on the break.

But two since the break hats off to the lady rebels defense really tough at the back.

Yeah it's amazing that Kendrick here has to get a basket and I'm sure coach is talking about what kind of set they're going to come out of this time out and get a good shot probably inside to a star player Timeouts remaining right there again, one full time out for Hephzibah and two full time outs for Kendrick and no toes left and still a minute 19 on the clock here and something's got to give as we mentioned here tonight Hephzibah again trying to win that first state championship under Coach Wendell Lofton, who's been with the school 35 years, 29 as a head coach three times in the finals, but three runner up trophies.

And they said their trophy case has had enough of those.

They want a state championship trophy.

Meanwhile, Kendrick, three point shot right there off the mark but kept alive no foul called it and then goes back up with it follows her own shot off the glass and count it unbelievable Ginny McKinney two and three opportunities for the Lady Cherokee, another freshman.

So that certainly changes the complexion of things right here.

As we take another look at the hustle, she missed the tough shot and the baseline went back and got it and then had the wherewithal to get that ball up.

But she had to move out from the hoop there.

She right underneath it all.

She felt the contact and got it up there.

Drew the foul, looked like Hephzibah was in control.

But now all of a sudden, McKinney at the line and hits the free throw nine points tonight and it's a one possession game 6764 this things out over with yet folks locked away it'll stay with Hephzibah meanwhile Kendrick trying to be the first Columbus team girls basketball team to win a state championship.

So a lot on the line here tonight for both teams Hephzibah off the bat and a shot right there by Collier Terry and have some but they're not going to quit shooting the ball just the poise play under control going to allow for the swish MATTHEWS on the dribble and a blocking foul It looks like and it's going to be offensive and it looks like that's going to be five fouls.

They're going to be five on Rosetta Hollis So Hollis will foul out here with 13 points on the night as you see number 12 Ashley Marley set to check back in.

So Hollis day is done.

That's costly.

She's out of the game and Terry gets to shoot free throws down the other end only 43 seconds left and a full time out called right here by Coach Sterling Hicks.

They've still got one more left here with 43 seconds left.

They have Garner.

Curtis Bunn with you, John Nelson, courtside with us as we have reached the inside the final minute here of this triple A girls state championship game, we certainly appreciate all the viewership and all of our sponsors that have made it happen this weekend.

Hephzibah, as we mentioned state qualifier 14 of the last 15 years and they have never been defeated in the first round, but they've also never won a state championship.

So it's been sandwiched right in the middle.

Meanwhile, Kendrick, as you mentioned, coming in, a lot of team speed.

They force a lot of turnovers.

They've done that again here tonight.

As you see the time out story, one full of piece now shot.

But Hazard is still up by five here at 69, 64 and 43 ticks on the clock theoretically have to this to win the championship up by five with 49 seconds left in it.

The foul line theoretically, as Terry hits on the first free throw, she'll have another both teams well in the double bonus Terry trying to make it 20 right here along with this four rebounds off the five they are no good but kept alive by force a light and traveling going to be called right there and everything becomes costly.

I wanted to see whether the hefty move is going to actually hold the ball and try to use class that make too much sense.

These two teams, that's just not their style.

That's coach hates it.

They don't play in the forties.

They play up around the eighties.

These teams are going to throw off points, but it is Kendrick basketball trailing by six shot by Johnson is off the mark and kept alive underneath though and that's going to be a foul it looks like on Terry so that helps Kendrick the clock is stopped 26 seconds left have an opportunity to cut into the six point disadvantage early time Pulido is not on his side.

The first one misses from McKinney today with ten points tonight and four rebounds.

And another freshman here you are, a freshman playing for the state championship.

That was one thing that coach had said beforehand was one of his freshman Don't even realize what they're doing.

They're too young to be nervous.

They've got to get back and stop the clock with the foul.

Even better, they got a turnover SO fouls unable to handle it down deep and Kendrick still alive here but only 19 seconds on the clock and this is where that aggressive nature of the rebels works to their disadvantage Just pull the ball back.

You're up by six.

No need to go for any more points.

Clock winding down here.

Shout off the front of the iron No good by MATTHEWS rebound Latoya Terry and Hephzibah can feel it now The lady rebels with a key rebound when they needed it.

Both teams have come up with some offensive boards, but Hephzibah is starting to feel it now.

Curtis Yeah, the runs were significant throughout the game.

It's just that Henson, who made the biggest run near the end of the third quarter and then here in the fourth, coach Sterling Hicks looking for Kendrick but he can only watch as Latoya Terry indeed wraps her 20th point of the night.

She leads all scorers in this game.

She's played a phenomenal game, very, very aggressive, attacking, putting pressure on the defense.

It all alters it really not only scoring for Steph, but creating for her teammates.

Terry, with 21 inside 10 seconds three point shot Maya Washington is off the mark Morris with the rebound and coach Linda Lawson and the Hephzibah lady rebels are going to walk away with that first state title 33.

You know undefeated on the season.

The number one team in triple h has done it 72 to 64.

The final in this one.

What a game.

The tough part about this is watching the jubilation on one side and the despair on the other.

We'll take your hats off to Kendrick.

The Lady Cherokees came here with just one loss on the season out of state, and it's the way it's supposed to be.

The two best teams in the state basically meeting for that state championship.

They slug it out.

The team, the hitting that loss all year just had a little bit more bullets in that gun and it turned.

So they have some lady rebels, the 2005 class triple-A state champs.

Let's go ahead, throw it to John Nelson, standing by with the winning coach.

When you started 29 years, how does it feel to finally get a time?

God been so good to me.

God been so good to me in 29 years.

Luke Finally we got a championship.

Finally, and we want that on our walls so big it's going to be so proud.

And our community against there is still going to be happy about this.

It was some kind of game.

I wasn't.

Good Lord in my sleep or something.

You looked at me with about 12 seconds to go.

You kind of threw your hands up into the sky.

It's like, Well, do I finally have this one?

Talk about that last 46 seconds.

I guess you saw me look in the wall of the sky and say, Well, thank you, Father.

God, just thank you for being so good to me, you know, And I realized it was fitting to happen.

It was about to happen.

All right.

So do you get on that 16 foot bass boat and go fishing into the sunset?

Are you going to enjoy this Tuesday?

Wins the next to get wins.

And when I get over it, I'm going to lay out a Berman letter.

Here I come.

I tell you what, it's been great.

It's been a run.

33 or no perfect season.

It's been a good.

When you started, Gerald Ford was president.

Wendell Lofton, congratulations on that first state title.

David Curtis, back to you.

All right.

Wendell Lofton, Indeed, a class act and you got to feel good for him to get that championship.

Well, that's going to wrap things up.

An exciting Triple A match up.

I want to thank everybody, our entire crew, for Curtis Bonnet, for John Nelson.

I'm Dave Gardner saying so long got the triple AA boys game coming up next.

Stay with us right here.

As championship weekend rolls on during the broadcast of this Georgia High School Association state basketball championship has been made possible in part by electric membership corporations.

IBEW Local 613 Atlanta Black Cobia, State Farm, Dodge and by viewers like you.