The Class AA third-ranked Holy Innocents' boys had top-ranked Pace Academy on the ropes Tuesday night with a 47-34 lead entering in the closing minute of the third quarter.
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| Photo by Craig Sager II |
But the Knights rallied to tie it at 66 and with 2.7 seconds left senior Elijah Holifield drilled a game-winning pull-up jumper to give Pace Academy a thrilling 68-66 road victory in a packed gym at Holy Innocents'.
"Elijah is the best closer we've got in the state of Georgia right now," said Pace Academy head coach Demetrius Smith moments after the game, his team now 19-2 and 11-0 in Region 6.
Holifield took over down the stretch, netting 14 of his game-high 29 points in the final quarter including huge three-pointers that cut the deficit to 61-56 and later 65-61. After Holifield cut the lead to 65-61, teammate Zack Kaminsky connected on a three-pointer with 59.9 seconds left to make it a one-point game. Holy Innocents' (18-4, 8-3) drew a foul and Sam Asbury made one of two free-throws to extend the lead to two but 6-foot-10 Pace Academy sophomore Wendell Carter Jr. hit a lay-up to tie it.
Holy Innocents' got the ball back and drew another foul but Cole Smith could not dial up from the foul line and with the score still tied, gave Holifield and the Knights a chance to close the game and complete a 32-19 scoring advantage in the quarter.
Carter Jr. scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter while shooting a perfect six for six from the foul line. Holy Innocents' was led by Asbury's team-high 17 points and Smith's 15 points.
Allatoona 54, Hiram 42: In Region 5-AAAAA, No. 6 Allatoona (20-2, 15-0) defeated host Hiram (9-13, 7-8) behind Kevin Perry's 17 points off the bench. Bradley Brevet scored 11 while Rodney Brown and Trey Doomes both pitched in nine points. The Hornets were led by Demiere Brown's 21 points-16 of which came in the second half.
Tucker 79, Lakeside 49: Class AAAAAA's No. 6 Tucker Tigers (22-2, 8-0) rolled at home in Region 2 action behind a trio of players with 16 points. Bryce Brown, Jon Stephens, and Ayinde Russell all led the Tigers in scoring. Lakeside (5-13, 3-6) received 23 points from Najee Kemp to lead all scorers.
Cherokee 48, Milton 44: The Warriors (14-8, 8-5) scored a big Region 5-AAAAAA win at home behind Jovan Morris' 18 points and Willie McClure who scored 11. Harvard-commit Chris Lewis led Milton (12-9, 9-4) with 18 points.
Duluth 77, Mill Creek 73: Duluth (16-6, 7-4) picked up a big Region 7-AAAAAA win on the road which now pulls them into a tie with Collins Hill for second place. Kahir Jeffries led all scorers with 18 points nailing four 3-pointers. Anthony Showell added 16 points while Joseph Gordon chipped in 12 and Obinna Ofodile scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Mill Creek (14-8, 6-5) received 13 points from Scotty Chadwick and 11 apiece from Charles Botchway and Sha Powell.
Johns Creek 85, West Forsyth 61: Johns Creek (12-10, 10-5) banged home nine threes in the second half to cruise on the road against West Forsyth (10-11, 6-9) in Region 6-AAAAAA. Mark Lancaster connected on four 3-pointers en route to 20 points to lead Johns Creek. The Wolverines were led by Jimmy Staiti, who finished with 19 points and nine rebounds.
Miller Grove 71, Southwest DeKalb 49: No. 1 ranked Miller Grove (20-3, 12-0 in Region 6-AAAAA) blew past No. 7 Southwest DeKalb behind Alterique Gilbert's 22 points, seven assists and nine steals. Lamont West posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Keith Gilmore scored 23 points to lead the visiting Panthers (17-7, 8-5).
St. Francis 110, Pinecrest Academy 59: St. Francis, Class A's No. 1 team, overwhelmed the visiting Paladins. All five starters
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| Photo by Ty Freeman |
scored double digits for the Knights (18-3, 8-0) as Malik Beasley had 22 points. Pinecrest Academy (8-13, 3-6) received 18 points from Ryan McCarthy and 12 from Nick Palmer.
Johnson-Gainesville 81, North Hall 53: Ty Cockfield and Rod English led the way again for the undefeated No. 2 Knights (21-0, 5-0). Cockfield poured in 30 while English added 26 points. Visiting North Hall had two players in double figures with Carson Heinen scoring 24 and Evan Easton chipping in 10. The Trojans (11-12) are now 2-4 in Region 8-AAAA.
Hillgrove 60, Kennesaw Mountain 54: No. 10 Hillgrove was able to hold on at home against a tough Mustang team in Region 4-AAAAAA action. Collin Sexton scored a game-high 23 points to help lift the Hawks (17-4, 9-2) to victory. Antonio Wade contributed 19 points, 11 in the first quarter to get Hillgrove going. Nigel Hayes led the Mustangs (16-6, 7-4) with 19 points.
South Paulding 77, Lithia Springs 52: Joe Williams scored 20 points and Anthony Brown posted a 10 point, 11 rebound double-double as the Spartans advanced to 17-5 overall and 11-4 in Region 5-AAAAA. Kinsey Burgess also chipped in 10 points for South Paulding. The visiting Lions (12-9, 7-8) were led by Daqaun Huff's 20 points.
GIRLS
Hillgrove 50, Kennesaw Mountain 19: Hillgrove (12-9, 5-6 in Region 4-AAAAAA) held visiting Kennesaw Mountain to six points in the first half and was led by Tene Thompson's 11 points and 13 rebounds. Kennesaw Mountain (10-12, 2-9) got seven points from Anna Stewart.
McEachern 80, North Cobb 51: Seventh-ranked McEachern (16-4, 9-2 in Region 4-AAAAAA) had four players in double figures led by Tea Cooper (Tennessee commit) with 20 points, 11 assists, and six steals while Chanel Wilson had 18 points, Jada Lewis scored 16 points and Lyndsey Whilby finished with 14. North Cobb (16-6, 6-5) was paced by Kyrie Chandler's 18 points.
Holy Innocents' 78, Pace Academy 33: Erika Cassell scored 12 of her game-high 19 points before the half as Class AA No. 1 Holy Innocents' (22-0, 10-0 in Region 6) exploded for 48 points and cruised past visiting Pace Academy (5-14, 0-8).
Norcross 61, Peachtree Ridge 27: Eight-ranked Norcross (19-3, 10-1 in Region 8-AAAAAA) held visiting Peachtree Ridge to two points in the first half. Bash Perry led the way with 18 points and Ty Gillespie added 13. Peachtree Ridge (4-17, 3-9) got 13 points from Melissa Bowman.
Parkview 64, Grayson 40: Third-ranked Parkview had three players in double figures at home against Grayson. Raven Johnson went for 13 points, Makenna Pouengue scored 11 points and Vickie Harris added 10. Parkview (16-3, 12-0 in region 8-AAAAAA) opened the game on a 22-6 scoring run. Grayson (14-7, 7-6) was led by Shakara Burton who scored 18 points.
Douglas County 48, Langston Hughes 45: Visiting Douglas County outscored Langston Hughes 25-17 in the second half. Douglas County (15-6, 9-1 in region 3-AAAAAA) was led by Arsula Clark, who scored 12 points. Tay Faust scored 11 and Amira Atwater, who scored eight. Langston Hughes (15-3, 8-2) was paced by Kendricka Glover and Anesha Smith, both with 17.
St. Francis 80, Pinecrest Academy 53: Top-ranked St. Francis (16-2, 8-0 in Region 6-A) opened with a 23-9 run in the first quarter and led at half 43-26. Kasiyahna Kushkituah led the way with 22 points and 12 rebounds. She was helped by Abby Grant with 14 points and Jala Jordan with 12.
Southwest DeKalb 49, Miller Grove 40: Ninth-ranked Southwest DeKalb (18-6, 12-1 in Region 5-AAAAA) put the game away on a late run as Daisa Alexander had 14 points and Chantz Cherry and Michaela Bennefield each had 12. Miller Grove (11-8, 8-4) was led by Imani Richardson's14 points and Chrystal Ezechukwu added 10 points and 12 rebounds.
