Albany Herald

Photo by Brandon Brigman

MILLEDGEVILLE -- Better extend that reservation in Milledgeville, Lady Wildcats and Lady Eagles fans.

That's right, the Westwood and Terrell Academy girls basketball teams aren't going anywhere after the Lady Wildcats downed David Emanuel on Thursday afternoon in the Final Four GISA Class A State Tournament, 35-30, to advance to the championship game Saturday at Georgia College & State University. TAE, meanwhile, hammered Christian Heritage, 73-64, to reach the Class AA title game on Saturday.

Westwood will play local Southwest Georgia rival Crisp Academy at noon Saturday, while Terrell Academy will play the winner of Thursday's late Class AA semifinal between Gatewood and LaGrange at 3 p.m.

The Lady Wildcats had never even been to a Final Four in the school's 40-year history, much less a state title game. And now, they're one win away from being the state's best in the 2010-11 season.

Westwood led in every quarter but one, jumping out a 10-5 lead early, then taking a 19-13 lead into halftime. The Lady Wildcats trailed, 24-23, entering the final frame, but then outscored DEA, 11-7, when it counted.

Terrell Academy never trailed in its game, taking a 16-point lead into halftime against the previous one-loss Lady Lions, who spent much of the season as the No. 1 team in the GISA coaches poll.

The win is even sweeter for the Lady Eagles, who made the jump to Class AA this offseason after winning the last two state crowns in Class A. Many critics thought TAE's days of running the table at Milledgeville were over, but the Lady Eagles set out to prove a point they can win at any classification, and against any level opponent.

--- Full stories in Friday's Herald