Macon Coliseum – Macon, GA

6-2 Jr.-Nicole Stroud from Avondale blocks 1 of the 13 she had on the night.

It was the game of the year for girls’ high school basketball when the Avondale Lady Blue Devils stepped on the court to face the state champion Hephzibah Lady Rebels in the Georgia High School Association’s AAA championship game at the Macon Coliseum on Saturday evening.

The stage was set from the introduction of the two teams until the horn sounded with the young upstarts from DeKalb County knocking off the Lady Rebels 59-53 in a battle that went back and forth from the start but saw the Lady Blue Devils come out on top to capture their first ever state title.

The stars lit up the coliseum with Avondale’s Nicole Stroud stealing the show with her relentless domination underneath at both ends of the court putting up 17 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and knocking 13 balls out to the parking lot while Hephzibah’s Jasmine Judge exploded from three-point range launching eight treys from the bleachers.

Jasmine Judge score a game high 20 points for Hepzibah.

Avondale controlled the tip putting up five quick first period points before Hephzibah took off on a 17-9 run to end the period ahead 17-16.

Avondale stormed back in the second quarter with Charvez Holmes taking control of the boards and Shady Woolcock putting in the necessary baskets to give the Lady Blue Devils a 46-44 lead to take to locker room at the half.

Avondale came out in the third period to take a 44-39 lead with 3:11 left to play with Stroud and Jasmine Hall denying the Hephzibah girls access to the boards at both ends while getting the fire power from  Holmes.

Hephzibah was not to be denied as they stormed back going on a 7-2 run with Judge hitting two crucial three pointers while Porsha White and Jaleesa Morris found a way to alienate the board dominance of Stroud and Hall pulling within two points of Avondale going into the fourth period.

Angelica "Jelly" Mealing goes past a Hepzibah defender.

Lopez tied the game from the free throw line for the Lady Rebels in the first minute of the fourth period as both teams exchanged several leads going down the stretch with Hephzibah taking a 50-48 lead with 4:54 remaining to play.

Stroud tied the game again when she hit two needed free throws before both teams went stale and the Lady Rebels had a 53-52 lead with two minutes left.

Avondale prevailed in the final minutes with Stroud, Woolcock and Hall putting the game away from the charity stripe to head back to DeKalb with the coveted trophy.

Scoring Recap

Avondale:

Nicole Stroud scored 17 points to lead Avondale. Charvez Holmes added 15 points, Shady Woolcock finished with 12 points, Jasmine Hall had 8 points and Angelica Mealing chipped in with 7 points.

Hephzibah:

Jasmine Judge score a game high 20 points to lead Hepzibah. Re'Nate Lopez and Jaleesa Morris each finished with 8 points and Prosha White chipped in with 6 points.