Tifton —
For the first time in five years, Fullington Academy’s boys will be making a trip to the GISA Final Four and they’ll be taking with them a coach who was last there in 1992 when he, too, played for the Trojans.
The 60-47 victory the Region 3-A runner-up posted Saturday over Region 2-A Robert Toombs’ Crusaders places earned them a berth opposite Region 4-A titlist Dawson Friday at 3:30 p.m. at Mercer University.
The winner of that contest qualifies for Saturday’s 1:40 p.m. finals also to be played at Mercer against either Curtis Baptist or Georgia Christian.
“I’m real proud of our guys from the top to the bottom of our roster,” said Fullington mentor Van Bailey who’ll be making his first semi-finals coaching appearance.
“We knew going in that our defense had to slow their fast-break and offset their overall athleticism and did so by playing an aggressive 2-3 zone designed to slow their penetration to the basket.
“Offensively, we wanted to try and capitalize on our inside game with Levi (McKinney) and David (Roney). Our guards also did a good job of handling their pressure and limiting turnovers.”
McKinney and Roney were an equally big factor on defense as well, sparking Fullington’s 37-30 advantage in rebounds and forcing the Crusaders to alter a number of their shots when they came inside.
While McKinney, who had 20 points and 14 boards, and Roney, who had 15 points, 10 caroms and eight blocked shots, seemingly stood out most, Bailey said the outcome was the result of “a full team effort.
“All our guys kept their heads up as they did a great job of following our game plan to perfection.”
Braden Shealy sank 11 points to join McKinney and Roney in double digits for the winners. Robert Toombs managed just two twin-column scorers in Rico Rogers, 18, and Herron Gardner, 14.
Score by Quarters
Fullington Academy 12-17-20-11 — 60
Robert Toombs 11-10-7-19 — 47
Scoring
Fullington (60) — Levi McKinney 20, Dane Bailey 3, Paul Dossett, Ty Tyndal, Gavin Reed, Jim Hartin 5, Braden Shealy 11, Mark McCleskey 6, David Roney 15, Austin McIntyre, Jordan Harris, Andrew Mitcham, Jackson McGraw, Forrest Ager, Adam Roney, Butler Clements, Logan Priest, Cole Thompson.
Team totals: field goals 24; free throws 11 of 22 (50%); fouls 10; 3-pointers — Shealy 1; fouled out — none.
Robert Toombs (47) — Shredrick Brown 5, Matt O’conner 2, Rico Rogers 18, Josh Mimbs 3, Herron Gardner 14, Landon James 2, Zack Holmes 3.
Team totals: field goals 19; free throws 6 of 14 (42.9%); fouls 20; Brown 1, Gardner 2; fouled out — Rogers, Gardner.
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Fullington Academy's Jim Hartin (R) is guarded by a Robert Toombs defender during the Trojans' 60-47 win over the Crusaders in a game played last Saturday at ABAC in Tifton. The win advanced Fullington to a 2:30 p.m. Friday Final Four berth at Mercer University in Macon against Dawson Street. Bonnie Hauesler/Dispatch Correspondent
Trojans headed to Final Four clash vs. Dawson Street
- Local Sports
-
-
Wildcats, Trojans reveal their Final Four series slates; Cougars start today
While Crisp County High launches its GHSA Class AAAA Final Four series at home today at 4 vs. Marist’s War Eagles, Crisp and Fullington academies have firmed up the playing dates and times for their upcoming GISA semifinals series.
-
Lady Bobcats player signs with Albany Technical College
Lady Bobcats basketball player Tridedria Burke (seated third from left) has signed with Albany Technical College’s Lady Titans.
-
Bobcats Smith signs with Tougaloo College
Dooly County High basketball player, Andravious Jerel "A.J" Smith has signed to play at NAIA member Tougaloo College in Jackson, Miss.
-
Eagles coach views Fullington's Trojans as tough foe
Beaten out in last year’s GISA Class A playoffs by a team now competing in Class AA, David Emanuel Academy plays host today to a Final Four foe that hasn’t been this deep in the playoffs since 2010.
-
Knights want reverse outcome in re-match with Wildcats
Heading into this weekend’s GISA Final Four, Bethlehem Christian finds itself exactly where it was at this time a year ago — top-ranked, the Region 1-A titlist and a host vs. Crisp Academy.
-
Dooly freshman excels at state golf tournament
Carding an overall 86, Dooly County High’s Jordan Miles placed 12th among 55 entries in Monday’s Georgia High School Association public school golf tournament.
-
Pate reviews Final Four losses; Cougars' ace sticking with ’Dogs
Prior to the start of Monday’s Final Four series pitting Crisp County and Marist, coach Bill Pate said the key to the Cougars’ chances of moving on to the finals was for them to do what they had been doing.
As it turned out, they unfortunately didn’t. -
Marist foils Cougars' bid for baseball finals berth
In a nightcap battle of pitching “aces,” the deuce fourth-ranked Marist High had on the scoreboard was enough to get it a sweep of second-ranked Crisp County in a Monday Class AAAA semifinals duel.
-
Northern Heights Neighborhood Watch Group formed
The newly-formed Northern Heights Neighborhood Watch Group will hold at 7:30 p.m. Thursday a meeting in the municipal courtroom located on the second floor of City Hall.
-
Dooly County High pays tribute to its athletes at all-sports banquet
Winding up one of its most successful years overall athletically, Dooly County High honored participants in all of its sports program at a banquet held Tuesday in the school cafeteria.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
Wildcats, Trojans reveal their Final Four series slates; Cougars start today
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
