2015 Class 5A Girls’ State Champions — Stephenson Lady Jaguars

Big second half offensive rebounds by Nailah Manning spurred the Stephenson Lady Jaguars to a 65-56 victory over the No. 2 ranked Mays Lady Raiders for the Class 5A girls’ state title in Macon on Friday night.

“Nailah’s (Manning) put backs were huge for us in the second half,” said Stephenson head basketball coach Dennis Watkins. “That is the kind of hard work these girls have put in since the summer and it paid off against a great team in Mays.”

Stephenson was ranked No. 5 heading into the state playoffs as a No. 3 seed and had lost both a regular season game (64-46) and a Region 6-5A Tournament semifinal contest (53-51 in overtime) to Mays.

Kendall Pack hit one of two free throws with three minutes to play in the third quarter to pull Mays (27-3) into a 40-40 tie when Manning made her first big offensive play of the night.

Stephenson’s Miracle Gray (5) pulls up for a shot against Mays. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Manning went to the boards on a missed shot by the Jaguars (28-5) and stuck it back in giving Stephenson the lead for good at 42-40.

Davion Wingate ended the final minute with four points (2 free throws and a driving layup) for a 46-40 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Manning hit the boards again with 6:09 to play to get another second chance basket for the Lady Jaguars and a 48-42.

Mays kept the score close by hitting 11 of 13 from the free throw line, including 7 of 10 by Harlyn Wyatt, and trailed just 52-51 following two charity shots by Pack with 4:46 to play.

Terrianna Cave went to work for Stephenson at the point scoring six points with the benefit of some nifty passes from Miracle Gray and Chloe Culpepper as the lead climbed back out to 58-53.

It was Stephenson’s turn to go the line as Rhein Beaman and connected on four straight free throws and Mays was down 64-53 with just 33.5 seconds to play.

The only basket in the fourth quarter came on a three by Kamiyah Street with 22 seconds to play as all previous 13 points for Mays came at the free throw line.

Mays went into the half with a 27-23 lead after an inbounds pass with 1.3 seconds went to Harlyn Wyatt who just beat the buzzer.

Stephenson’s Kayla Holmes (4) dribbles up court against Mays’ Kamiyah Street (2). (Photo by Mark Brock)

Stephenson fell behind 31-23 on two quick baskets by Mays to open the second half before getting going on offense behind Manning’s big offensive boards and Davion Wingate’s quick strikes.

Terrianna Cave led Stephenson with 14 points while Wingate and Miracle Gray finished with 13 each in the game. Kamiyah Street hit for a game high 19 in the game for Mays and Wyatt finished with 18 (10-15 from the line).

The title was the third for Watkins at Stephenson having won Class 5A titles in 2004 and 2008.Watkins third title makes him the second DeKalb County girls’ coach to win three joining Southwest DeKalb’s Kathy Walton (2008-2010, 2013)

Stephenson, which played all its playoff games on the road, defeated Region 5-5A No. 2 seed Lithia Springs, gave No. 1 ranked Brunswick (28-1) its first loss of the year, knocked off No. 4 Sequoyah 55-53 at the buzzer and beat No. 8 Forest Park 55-44 in overtime on the way to the finals.

The title gives DeKalb County 12 consecutive years of winning at least one basketball title each year. Stephenson started the string with its 2004 Class 5A girls’ state win over Collins Hill. The last time DeKalb won only one title was in 2007 (Tucker’s Class 4A Boys’).