PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Sherwood girls advance to play for state title

COLUMBUS — As the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard at Calvary Christian School Tuesday afternoon, the tears of joy began to flow down the cheeks of Sherwood Christian girls basketball coach Lakeshia Elder.

For the first time in her three seasons as coach of the Lady Eagles, Elder and Sherwood will play for the GICAA Class AA state championship on Saturday after taking a 42-36 victory over Unity Christian in the semifinals.

“I always wanted to be a head coach and this is the first time in my three years at Sherwood that we’re taking a team to the state championship,” she said. “This is a dream come true.”

Sherwood held a 22-20 lead at halftime, then kept the pressure on in the second half. Unity never took control of the game.

Madison Walker led the Lady Eagles with 18 points, while Molly Kate McClearn added 12. Key’yada Thomas tossed in nine points.

Sherwood will play for the title Saturday at 5 p.m. at Georgia College & State University.

“We’ve waited a long time for this,” Elder said. “This league is not a pushover league.”

TERRELL ACADEMY GIRLS 63, PINEWOOD CHRISTIAN 38: Terrell Academy eliminated Pinewood Christian in the first round of the GISA Class AAA state tournament at Gatewood Academy. Marilauren Farr led the Lady Eagles with 16 points, while Kathryn Proffitt added 14 points and Alana McCook 12.

The Lady Eagles will travel back to Eatonton on Friday to play top-seeded Gatewood, who beat Holy Spirit Prep, in the other first-round game.

“We applied some defensive pressure,” Terrell girls coach Keith Jones said. “We’ve got a bunch that gets after it. We forced some turnovers and got some easy baskets. After traveling for three hours and then getting off the bus, you worry about if they are going to be ready to play or not.

“But they played hard and I was proud of their effort.”

BULLOCH ADACEMY GIRLS 61, DEERFIELD-WINDSOR 46: After a slow start against the defending GISA Class AAA state champions in Statesboro, the Lady Knights never recovered. Kelsey King led the Lady Knights with 11 points, Joyner Tyson added 10 points, while Teasie Williams added nine. Deerfield-Windsor’s season ended at 14-13.

FAYETTE COUNTY GIRLS 58, MONROE 50: Monroe lost in the Class AAAA state quarterfinals at Fayette County for the second straight season. The loss put an end to the Lady Tornadoes’ season.

No other details were available.

TERRELL COUNTY GIRLS 45, COMMERCE 31: Terrell County advanced to the Class A public school semifinals following a 45-31 victory at Commerce. No other details were available.

CARROLLTON GIRLS 56, AMERICUS-SUMTER 51: Carrollton put an end to Americus-Sumter’s dream season. The Lady Panthers lost in the Class AAAA quarterfinals. No other details were available.