Local hoopers make DeKalb proud

One of the best team efforts in DeKalb history and one of the best individual high school careers in the nation recently came to an end in Macon, with St. Pius X Catholic and Marist both bringing home Georgia High School Association (GHSA) basketball state championships on March 12. 

With the championship win, St. Pius’ boys basketball team (33-0) completed a perfect season. The Golden Lions won it all with a 54-51 title clenching win over Pace Academy, becoming the first boys’ basketball team in school history to win a state championship.  

Marist’s girls’ team saw Kate Harpring, the No. 1 ranked recruit in the country, lead the Lady War Eagles of Marist to their second state title in three seasons. In the process, Harpring became the GHSA all-time leading scorer and picked up her second consecutive Gatorade Girls Player of the Year award. Harpring capped off her Marist career with 40 points and 16 rebounds in a 58-50 win against Kell. 

The wins made St. Pius X Catholic the state of Georgia’s only undefeated team this season and gave Marist its fourth state title in six years.  

The accomplishments of Pius and Marist not only led the county this season but also put the state and country on notice for the kind of basketball played in DeKalb. 

The Champion staff congratulates our local state champion winners, and we hope to see them make it back next season.