Cedar Grove falls in state championship

Cedar Grove High School reached the Georgia High School Association’s boys’ basketball championship game for the first time since 1997, but the Saints fell 66-38 to region foe Sandy Creek High School.

It was Cedar Grove’s fourth loss of the year to Sandy Creek High School, with the Patriots of Sandy Creek leading comfortably for most of the game after the opening quarter.

After the first quarter, Cedar Grove led 14-13, but the Saints shooting went cold for the remainder of the game as Sandy Creek ran away with it.

Cedar Grove shot a combined 3-23 (13 percent) in the second and third quarters while Sandy Creek pulled away by making 13 of 30 shots (43 percent). The Saints finished the game shooting 29.8 percent while the Patriots shots 44.1 percent. The Saints didn’t make a field goal in the second quarter.

Cedar Grove put up 12 points in the third quarter with Darius Reynolds getting the opening basket. However, the Saints only made three more baskets in the half to Sandy Creek’s six. Cedar Grove also opened the fourth quarter with no made shots in the first four minutes.

Cedar Grove sophomore EJ Colson ended the drought with his three with 3:26 remaining and freshman Emmanuel Green followed with a drive and reverse layup for a couple of quick scores. Cedar Grove’s Camron Ferguson got a dunk off a steal to end the scoring.

The Saints finished 20 to10 on the season after going 4-16 a year ago and 18-46 over the previous three seasons. Before their state title run, the Saints only had a second-round playoff appearance in 2020 to show for the previous three seasons.

Cedar Grove made its second state final appearance having won the Class 2A championship in 1997 88-65 over Greene-Taliaferro High School.

The Saints were led by coaches Camden Terry and Kendrick Callier as well as All Region Picks Green Reynolds. Jaylen Adside and Colson also led the Saints’ backcourt.

The 20 wins were Cedar Grove’s most wins since 2018-19.