Columbia’s Lorenzo McGhee (13) looks for room to drive against Miller Grove’s Jermon Clark (14) during the Eagles’ 60-58 win. (Photo by Mark Brock)

A classic physical, defensive battle between two Class 5A Top 5 ranked boys’ basketball teams came down to the free throw line in final 51 seconds as the No. 3/4 ranked Columbia Eagles held off the No. 3/4 ranked Miller Grove Wolverines 60-58 in a Region 5-5A clash at Columbia on Friday night.

Columbia entered the game ranked third by the AJC/Score Atlanta poll and fourth by Sandy’s Spiel while the Wolverines were third in Sandy’s Spiel and fourth in the AJC/Score standings.

Lorenzo McGhee gave the Eagles (5-2, 4-1) a 56-51 lead with a pair of free throws with 51 seconds to play and the two teams would trade points throughout the final seconds of the game.

Maurice Harvey scored his 15th point of the second half with a drive with 38 seconds to play to make it a one possession game at 56-53. Josh Taylor made it a four-point (57-53) Columbia lead hitting one of 2 from the line with 34 seconds to play.

Miller Grove’s Kevin Page got an offensive put back with 20 seconds left to make it a two-point game at 57-55 and Columbia’s Keondre Kennedy was fouled and went to the line with the Eagles in the double bonus and 17.5 seconds to play. Kennedy hit both free throws to push the lead back out to 59-55.

Timothy Stargell Jr. was fouled and knocked down a pair of free throws to once again pull the Wolverines (5-3, 3-1) with two at 59-57 with 10 seconds remaining.

Kennedy returned to the line for the Eagles with 8.6 seconds to play and hit the second of two free throws to give the Wolverines the opportunity to tie the game with a three-pointer.

The Eagles forced the ball out deep on the right wing and Lorenzo Anderson went up for a three-pointer which missed the mark as he was fouled.

Anderson was put at the line with the opportunity to tie the game with three free throws with just .4 seconds left on the clock. His first shot rimmed out and he ended up making one of three to make the final of 60-58.

The Eagles built a 28-21 halftime lead with a 17-point second quarter started by LJ Thomas’ three-pointer to open the second quarter. The big quarter was fueled by a 13-5 advantage in rebounding.

Miller Grove went to work on the boards in the third quarter with 11, including seven offensive rebounds to get within 36-33 on Maurice Harvey’s pull up jumper heading into the fourth quarter.

The Wolverines got within one twice on an offensive put back by Paige and a layup by Jermon Clark to pull within 38-37 with 5:49, but McGhee answered with a three-pointer from the left corner to put the Wolverines in chase mode the rest of the way.

McGhee finished with a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, including 12 second half points. Keondre Kennedy who hit five of six free throws in the fourth quarter added 17 points and 8 rebounds and LJ Thomas finished with 10.

Maurice Harvey hit for 15 of his 22 points in the second half as he tried to will the Wolverines from behind. Jermon Clark added 16 points and 9 rebounds and Lorenzo Anderson finished in double figures with 10.

Miller Grove’s Kaylen Ponder (5) defends against Columbia’s Serenitee Streater (20) during the Lady Wolverines’ 46-44 win. (Photo by Mark Brock)

(G) Miller Grove 46, Columbia 44
Kashundra Patterson hit two free throws with 2.5 seconds remaining to send the Miller Grove Lady Wolverines to a 46-44 victory over the home team Columbia Lady Eagles.

Miller Grove was trailing 44-42 with 31 seconds to play in the game after a lane violation on the Lady Eagles disallowed a second free throw by Shonice Austin.

The Lady Wolverines moved the ball around quickly on offense and Dejah Turner found Maugerite McGill for a layup to tie the game at 44 with 18 seconds to play. Miller Grove forced a turnover and got the ball back with 10.2 seconds to play.

Patterson got the ball and driving in for a jumper was fouled with the 2.5 seconds remaining. She hit both free throws for her first points of the second half to make it 46-44 in favor of Miller Grove.

Columbia lofted a long pass down the court that was knocked out of bounds by Miller Grove with 1.7 seconds to play to give Columbia one last chance. The inbounds pass went to Austin just over half court and her shot was partially blocked as she tried to loft the ball towards the goal as time ran out.

Miller Grove was leading 23-14 at the half due to a 12-0 run to start the second quarter led by Patterson who had a steal to start the quarter with an easy layup and a three-pointer with 3:42 left in the half to make it 20-12.

Kaylen Ponder’s three would give Miller Grove the 23-14 halftime lead.

Austin scored 12 of Columbia’s 19 points to open the second half including a three-pointer, her second of the half, with 6:37 to play to give Columbia its first lead (33-32) since a 12-10 lead early in the second quarter.

The lead would change four times in the next five minutes before Austin’s free throw made it 44-42.

Patterson finished with 15 points to lead Miller Grove (5-3, 3-1) and Austin led Columbia (4-6, 2-3) with a game-high 24 points.