Atkinson Co vs. SACA (1A Finals)

4SHOT Sports

2006 Georgia State Championships
Atkinson Co vs. SACA (1A Finals)
By Larry Williams\4SHOT Sports
Mar 4, 2006, 11:00 EST

Girls - Class A State Championships Finals

SACA wins girls 1st State Championship

"Lady Warriors" building something special!

The Macon Coliseum – Macon, GA

SACA's Brianna Brown scored 16 points to lead the "Lady Warriors"

For the first time in the schools short history the Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy “Lady Warriors” have won the GHSA Class A Girls State Championship; and they did it with tenacity, hard work and the grace becoming a champion knocking off favorite Atkinson County 53-45, and it could be the 1^st of many with the majority of the team returning for their sophomore and junior seasons next year.

The “Lady Warriors” from SACA started the game a little nervous and fell behind as Atkinson County's speedy point guard 5-1 Sr.-Alesia Thomas used her speed to blow pass the “Lady Warriors” defense. A three-pointer by 5-7 Sr.-Tiffany Thomas gave the “Lady Rebels” a 15-10 first-quarter lead.

After shaking off the 1^st quarter jitters the “Lady Warriors” got after it, Brianna Brown (a 4SHOT Hoops All-Freshman selection last year) drilled a three-pointer and 5-11 So.-La’Tanya Scott and 6-1 Fr.-Mariah Chandler started controlling the boards as SACA started cutting into the lead.

Atkinson County hung tough with the inside play of 6-0 Jr.-Jenny Nixon who did a nice job of combating Scott and Chandler. At the half the “Lady Rebels” held a slim 26-22 lead.

Atkinson County's Jenny Nixon and SACA's La'Tanya Scott ad a nice little battle going inside.

In the 1^st half Thomas’s speed was really causing SACA fits but Head Coach Jermaine Thompson made some great adjustments at the half that put an end to all of the sprints down the court, trapping the 5-1 water-bug and forcing her into double-teams every time they got a chance.

Two free-throws by 5-6 So.-Precious Friend from SACA cut the lead to 30-28 with 4:17 on the clock as the intensity of the game picked up. The “Lady Warriors” got a big lift from 5-6 Sr.-Cori Pinkett who started feeling it from the outside with 3 baskets. One of those jumpers tied the game at 30-30 and forced Atkinson County to call a timeout with 3:38 left in the 3^rd quarter.

With the action as hot and heavy as it was fouls started to become a factor on both sides; with 2:47 on the clock Chandler picked up her 3^rd foul for the “Lady Warriors”. Pinkett drilled another long jumper to give SACA their first lead of the game 34-32 with 2:14 left.

With time running out in the quarter Nixon scored back-to-back baskets to give Atkinson County a 39-35 lead.

Fouls continued to plaque the “Lady Warriors” as Brown picked up her 4^th personal foul early in the 4^th quarter. The Atkinson County lead reached six 41-35 when Thomas scored off of a steal with 6:46 to play in the game.

Just when it looked like the “Lady Rebels” were going to pull away the “Lady Warriors” fought back forcing a pair of turnovers. Brown drilled a pair of free-throws for SACA to cut the lead to 43-39 with 3:43 to play. A few seconds later the talented sophomore knocked out two more free-throws to pull the “Lady Warriors” within one 43-42 as Atkinson County started feeling the pressure.

SACA's Precious Friend (#21) and Cori Pinkett (#1) look to trap Atkinson County's Alesia Thomas.

With the fans from both sides going crazy, Scott put the “Lady Warriors” up 44-43. Atkinson County tied the game a few moments later making it 45-45. With 1:02 to play; Friend knocked down a jumper to give the “Lady Warriors” a 47-45 lead.

With :27 seconds to play Brown topped off a great come back by the “Lady Warriors” drilling a three-pointer from the corner and the party was on. As the seconds counted down the SACA fans and players were just over come with joy and excitement as tiny Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy stopped Atkinson County 53-45 to win their first State Championship.

As the championship trophy was being handed out I saw Brianna Brown looking for her father, 4SHOT Sports own John V. Brown; as she leaped into his arms I could see both were full of tears as the proud father told his daughter how proud of her he was….what a ending.

Scoring Recap

SACA:

Brianna Brown scored 16 points to lead the “Lady Warriors”. La’Tanya Scott and Cori Pinkett each scored 10 points. Mariah Chandler finished with 8 points and Precious Friend chipped in with 6 points.

Atkinson County:

Alesia Thomas scored a game high 17 points to lead the “Lady Rebels”. Jenny Nixon finished with 11 points, Gayla Williams had 10 points and Tiffany Thomas chipped in with 7 points.