Carrollton vs. Kendrick

The Macon Centrelplex – Macon, GA

Kendrick wins 1st State Hoops Championship

Myrick & McKinney leads “32-Minutes of Fury” to state title

Kendrick's Mukia Myrick and Janae McKinney press Carrollton's Velicia Bell.

Macon, GA - To say that Kendrick Head Coach Sterling Hicks and his Cherokees have been frustrated over the last few years when it comes to the Class 3A State playoffs would be an understatement, especially because a couple of those Kendrick teams have been ranked No.1 and made it all the way to the Final Four before falling.

Well all of that frustration ended Saturday night for Kendrick and their fans when they wore down an outstanding Carrollton team to capture their first Class 3A State Championship. 

Carrollton likes to push the ball up the floor but not to the extent that Kendrick was going to force them to do with applying their “32-Minutes of Fury” and I mean they apply that pressure on both ends of the court.

Early on though it was Carrollton that imposed their will opening up a quick 12-5 lead when Velicia Bell and Brittany Wiley knocked down three-pointers. Kendrick continued to apply pressure as they cut the lead to 12-8 but Wiley drilled another three-pointer to make it 15-8.

Carrollton senior Velicia Bell had to be carried off the court late in the game but returned to "Finish the Drill"

Kendrick got two quick second quarter baskets from their 4SHOT Hoop All-Star Janae McKinney and Mukia Myrick to tie the game at 20-20. A few moments later Myrick drilled a three-pointer to give the Cherokees their first lead of the game 23-20.

Carrollton continued to play their game despite the onslaught of pressure Kendrick was applying and retook the lead on a short jumper by Janyce Ealey. Myrick and Kym Stamps would both scored right before the half to put Kendrick up 33-30.

Early third quarter baskets by Ealey and KcKinney gave Kendrick their largest lead of the game 42-32 and forced Carrollton to call time out.

Ashlee Barley pushes the ball up the court as teammate Kim Stamps trails the play.

Undaunted by the Kendrick run the Lady Trojans continued to fight, Tierra Prothro scored back-to-back baskets to cut the lead to 69-60 with 1:13 left to play but their just wasn’t enough time left on the clock to catch up. Down the stretch Kendrick hit 8 of 10 free-throws to put away the game.

When the last seconds ran off on the clock the Kendrick and Carrollton fans both stood in unison to applaud both teams for their outstanding play. Finally the monkey was off the back of Head Coach Sterling Hicks and Kendrick as the raised the Class 3A Championship trophy.

The Final Score: Kendrick 79 – Carrollton 67

Scoring Recap

Kendrick: Mukia Myrick scored a team game high 25 points to lead Kendrick. Janae McKinney added 16, Ashlee Barley finished with 11, Keondra Barnes 9, Kymberli Stamps 8 and Simone High chipped in with 6

Carrollton: Brittany Wiley scored a game high 26 points to pace the Lady Trojans. Velicia Bell added 19 and Janyce Ealey chipped in with 10.