GISA CLASS AA TOURNAMENT: Crisp Academy girls stun Westwood

DAWSON — The Crisp Academy Lady Wildcats won their seventh consecutive Georgia Independent Schools Association region title Friday night in an epic basketball battle with Westwood at Terrell Academy.

Crisp Academy’s Josie Wells scored with nine seconds left and Crisp added two more free throws at the end to seal a 46-42 victory, stunning Westwood who entered riding a 26-game winning streak.

The boys Region 3-AA championship game between host Terrell Academy and Grace Christian was incomplete at press time.

Crisp is the defending Class AA state champions but had lost twice to Westwood during the regular season by 10 points each time.

“I thought it if we could get them on a neutral court we would have a chance,” Crisp coach Gina Mitchell said. “I knew we would have to play tough defense without a lot of fouls to make it happen, and that’s what we did.”

The game was a back-and-forth battle with each team trading the lead. Westwood had built a five-point advantage in the fourth quarter and seemed to be taking charge when Crisp picked up the defense and came back.

The two teams were tied until nine seconds left when Wells hit her shot to give Crisp the lead for good. Westwood had an opportunity to tie but turned the ball over with a traveling call. It ended Westwood’s hopes.

Both teams will play host to first round games in the Class AA state tournament that begins next week.

Junior center Claire McGarr scored 21 points to lead Crisp and was nine-for-nine at the free throw line. Sidney Wells also added 16 points. The Lady Wildcats of Crisp were 14 of 16 from the free throw line.

Westwood’s McKenlee Coleman led the scoring for her team. The Lady Wildcats lost starting center Karlie Jones with an ankle injury at the beginning of the second half.

Terrell Academy girls 54, Georgia Christian 26

In the girls’ consolation game, the Terrell Academy Lady Eagles took third place in the region with a win over Georgia Christian. Senior Hannah Harrell led all scorers with 15 points, while Sierra Brogdon added 11.

Crisp Academy boys 58, Georgia Christian 54

The boys’ consolation game between Crisp Academy and Georgia Christian was a tight one until the very end. The Wildcats held a slim 28-24 lead at the half and built a 10 point lead in the third quarter before the Generals rallied back to take a lead with just over five minutes left to play.

The Wildcats responded with a double-teaming defense that forced numerous turnovers and gave Crisp the victory. Bobby Ray Mitchell led all scorers with 22 points for the Wildcats and Ravi Patel scored 17. For the Generals, Logan Hornsby was the leading scorer with 11 points.