Region champs: Fayette boys and girls win titles

The Fayette County Lady Tigers played a hotly contested match with the Mays Lady Raiders tonight, a team they defeated by over 20 points in the regular season finale. This game was much different. Fayette County led 10-5 at the end of the first quarter but Mays held the edge in points at the end of the second and third quarter. The Lady Tigers had a one point lead with four minutes to go in the game and ended up winning 46-41.

The turning point in the game came in the third quarter when Fayette bounced back from a 10 point deficit, thanks to two big three pointers from Dekota Walton. Anma Onyeuku led Fayette County with 19 points, while Tessah Holt finished with 10.

“This was a tough tournament but we played tough and won,” said Fayette head coach John Strickland, unfazed by his team’s streaks of cold shooting. “When the clock hits 0.0, a ‘W’ is still a ‘W.’

The Lady Tigers will enter the Class AAAA state tournament at 27-0.

Fayette County’s boys followed the girls region championship by winning one of their own, handing Lithia Springs a hard fought 64-61 loss.

The two teams were deadlocked at 10 points a piece at the end of the first quarter and the Tigers held a two point lead at the half (27-25). Noel Johnson had 13 points in the first half before injuring his hand. He was out for the remainder of the game.

Tiger fans needn’t have worried though. Coach Andre Flynn stated that Noel’s teammates stepped up and won the game in his honor.

Sophomore Malcolm Brogdon had 12 of his 25 points in the third quarter and hit five fourth quarter free throws to help lead the team to victory. Flynn also praised the play of sophomore Adam Smith and his son, Addison Flynn who operated as the point guard and hit two key free throws in the final seconds of the game.

“I love this team,” said Coach Flynn after the game. “They persevere and believe in each other.”

Fayette County’s boys and girls will open the state tournament next weekend. The girls will play Tucker and the boys will play Stone Mountain. It is hoped the games will be played back to back on Friday with the girls playing at 7 p.m. and the boys playing at 8:30 p.m.

In the consolation games - Sandy Creek’s girls lost 80-45 while McIntosh beat Sandy Creek’s boys 90-75. Jeremy Lampkin scored 30 points for the Chiefs, while Isaac Woodley added 18, Michael Chisholm scored 15 and Josh Ball had 11. Malcolm Jackson scored 29 for the Patriots while Emerson Williams added 15.