A last second three-pointer came up just short as time ran out as the Cedar Grove Saints fell 39-38 to the three-time champion Sandy Creek Patriots in the Class 3A boys’ state championship game at the Macon Coliseum on Wednesday night.

Sandy Creek’s Amari Latimer gave the Patriots the 39-38 lead hitting one of two free throws with 14.1 seconds to play for the fifth lead change in the final 5:18 of the game.

Cedar Grove (28-4) got the ball up the court and called timeout with 8.1 seconds to play. The two teams traded timeouts, and the Saints inbounded the ball and Yusef Bowyer received the ball open at the top of the key as time was ticking away. He lofted an open shot that hit the rim and fell off as time expired.

The two teams swapped leads in the first half with the Saints leading 10-8 after one quarter of play and the Patriots (29-3) took a 21- 18 lead at the half following a three-point play by the Saints’ Keith Gillespie.

The tough and physical play continued in the second half with the Patriots pulling out to a 26-20 lead on a layup by Jared White with 6:44 remaining in the third quarter.

Cedar Grove put together a 10-0 run starting with a big slam by Javonte Floyd on an assist from Manny Green. Green followed with back-to-back drives and the game was tied 26-26 with 4:28 left in the third.

Two free throws by Bowyer put the Saints ahead for the first time since early in the second quarter at 28-26. A steal by Dontavious Stringfield and pass up the court to Gillespie for a layup made it 30-26 with 1:22 to play in the quarter.

Sandy Creek pulled within 30-28 on a layup by Osakilo Okeke as the teams headed to the fourth quarter.

Two quick baskets by Avohn Florence gave the Patriots the lead again at 32-30 with 5:18 to play. Cedar Grove answered with a drive by Bowyer and a nice pass from Stringfield to Green to retake the lead at 34-32 at the 3:52 mark.

Sandy Creek came back with baskets by White and an offensive putback by Florence to go back in front 36-34 with 2:28 to play. Green tied the game at 36 with a drive with 2:11 to play, but the Saints missed three consecutive free throw opportunities to take the lead.

Latimer put the Patriots up 38-36 with a driving layup at the 1:16 mark of the fourth quarter. Cedar Grove knotted the game once again as Gillespie nailed two free throws with 46.7 seconds to play before Latimer hitting his for the final lead of the game.

Green finished the game with 13 points to lead the Saints and Javonte Floyd added nine points and 12 rebounds. Florence finished the night with a game-high 18 points and 12 rebounds for Sandy Creek.