Stephenson’s Rhein Beamon (24) drives against Forest Park’s Alexius High. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Davion Wingate had 29 points, but it was Miracle Gray’s three-pointer to start overtime that fueled the 55-44 victory to send the Lady Jaguars to the Class 5A state finals for the first time since their 2008 state title.

Trailing 39-37 with the fourth quarter winding down Terrianna Cave took a pass from Rhein Beamon for a layup to send the game into overtime.

Forest Park got the tip to start overtime, but Beamon made a steal and with Forest Park dropping back on defense found Gray wide open on the left wing. Gray gathered herself and hit nothing but net on the three for the lead.

The shot was at first ruled a two with confusion on the college and high school line.  After a missed shot and out of bounds rebound, the shot was ruled a three to give Stephenson a 42-39 lead.

Wingate then drove for a basket for a 44-41 lead and Beamon hit two free throws to push it to 46-41 with 2:08 to play.

Stephenson which went 5-14 at the line over the first three quarters was 11 of 12 in the overtime to keep Forest Park at a distance.

Forest Park led 18-16 at the half on a Tamecia Blue basket just before the half as the No. 8 ranked Lady Panthers (28-5) rallied from a 12-6 first quarter deficit.

Stephenson missed 4 of 5 free throws in the third quarter and three layups and still was tied at 29-29 when Forest Park’s Kanisha Tharpe sent the Lady Panthers into the fourth quarter up 31-29 following an offensive rebound for a basket at the buzzer.

Stephenson led 37-33 on a Wingate basket, but Forest Park rallied to take a 39-37 lead as Alexius High hit a three and Kerry Watson completed a three-point play with just over a minute to play.

A missed one and one by Forest Park gave Stephenson the ball to set up Cave’s tying field goal. Wingate had an opportunity to win the game in regulation but a layup bounced off the rim sending the game into the extra period.

Stephenson got the game-high from Wingate at 29 points while Kerry Watson led Forest Park with 17.

Stephenson (27-5) takes on No. 2 ranked Mays (27-2), which defeated Dutchtown 56-38, in the Class 5A finals at 7:00 pm on Friday at Macon.

DeKalb Co. State Playoff Results
Saturday, Feb. 28
Class 5A Girls at Ft. Valley State University
Stephenson (27-5) 55, Forest Park (28-5) 44

DeKalb Co. State Playoff Schedule
Friday, May 6
Class 5A Girls at Macon
Stephenson (27-5) vs. Mays (27-2), 7:00 pm