MACON – Cross Creek High School basketball defeated region foe Harlem 56-51 in the Georgia High School AAA State Championship at Macon Coliseum on Wednesday, March 11.
This was the fourth time Cross Creek and Harlem battled this season, but this time it was that much more important.
“We knew playing Harlem would come out and give us everything they had,” said Cross Creek Coach Lawrence Kelly. “We dealt with adversity as we were down going into the fourth quarter and my guys just kept fighting. I am so proud of them”
The Razorbacks would get down early 14-12 after the first quarter but would battle back to tie the game 24-24 with thanks to 14 points from senior guard Dontrell Jackson.
Harlem boosted back ahead 38-32 with AJ Williams having to take over the game due to an injury to other Bulldog leading scorer Ty Shine.
Junior Frashad Tisby struggled the first half for the Razorbacks with only two points, but helped get Cross Creek ahead with three 3-pointers in the second half.
Despite AJ Williams 28 points, Cross Creek would overcome the deficit and earn their third State Championship.
“Coach always said I got to be consistent,” said Tisby. “The first half was a very bad half, and I had to come out in the second and help my team win.”
Jackson led Cross Creek to victory with 25 points and 7 rebounds. This was Jackson’s first year at Cross Creek, but his third high school state championship after winning two during his freshman and sophomore years at Westside.
This is also Cross Creek’s third state championship, winning back-to-back in 2021 and 2022.
Jackson will graduate this season, but Tisby still has high hopes to continue their winning ways and earn another state title.
“I want to come back for another state championship,” Tisby said. “I got my younger guys, and they will be ready step up and win another one.”
Sportswriter Christopher Rickerson is an Augusta University graduate who has covered area sports for publications including Augusta University‘s Bell Ringer, The Augusta Press and Augusta Good News. Subscribe to the Augusta Good News’ free weekly newsletter here.
