2010 GHSA State Championships Elite 8 - Class 3A
Still Perfect

Columbus, GA - LaGrange stayed focused and played solid basketball down the stretch as they held off a serious fight from a scrappy Dougherty team that didn't appear to be fazed at all with the undefeated Grangers.

Jamius Gunsby represents the power inside for LaGrange.

The Trojan's two guards Abrabian Williams and Raymond Payne each scored a couple of baskets to give Dougherty an early 9-4 lead.

LaGrange quickly battled back; a pair of basket inside by Jamius Gunsby would tie the game at 11-11. Moments later the Grangers would get a three-pointer from Martez Johnson that would give them a 14-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Dougherty wanted to push the ball up the floor and to do that they had to hit the boards, which they did. Semori Allen and Chris Holmes did a solid job on the glass; both scoring on put-backs as the Trojans pulled even at 18-18.

The teams would continue to trade baskets back and forth the rest of the half. A three-pointer by Williams at the buzzer gave Dougherty a 30-27 halftime lead.

LaGrange goes nine deep and each one of those players is fundamentally sound and athletic; when you talk about a total team effort that is what you are going to get from them.

In the third quarter Dionte Mains would score for LaGrange to give them a 35-34 lead with just under 5:00 minutes left in the quarter. The lead would reach six a few minutes later when Royal Thomas scored on a lay-up.

Dougherty would regroup and get themselves back into the game; a three-pointer by the Trojans Joshua Christian would tie the game at 42-42 with just seconds left in the third-quarter. LaGrange would go back up 44-42 on a basket at the buzzer.

Raymond Payne is a cat quick junior guard from Dougherty.

With less than 5:00 minutes to play and the scored tied Dougherty turned the ball over and Mains scored to give LaGrange a 46-44 lead. The lead would reach five, 51-46 on a put-back by Gunsby.

Down the stretch Dougherty did not do a good job of handling the ball and their shot selections were questionable.

With less than 1:00 minute to play Mains made a bigtime steal and scored to make it 55-49; he was fouled on the shot and converted the free-throw to make it 56-49 and that was pretty much all she wrote for the Trojans.

LaGrange will now take their undefeated record to Macon and the Class 3A Final Four.

The Final Score: LaGrange 59 – Dougherty 51

Scoring Recap:

LaGrange: Dionte Mains scored 14 points to lead LaGrange, Jamius Gunsby added 10, Royal Thomas 9, Kwame Brown 8 and Qua Hardy chipped in with 7

Dougherty: Abrabian Williams and Raymond Payne each scored 14 points for the Trojans. Chris Holmes finished with 8.