Eagle's Landing (27-3) overcame a six-point deficit in the final 45 seconds of overtime to escape Central with a 67-65 win over the Region 2-AAA champions. They will play either Crisp County or Westside-Augusta Saturday at Georgia College with a spot in the AAA Final Four on the line.
Quintavias Virgil led Central with 21 points, while Kavizea Oliver added 17. Marquis Griffin led the Eagles with 19 points.
“Losses aren’t easy,” Central head coach Andre Taylor said. “Playoff losses are worse. This is about as bad as a loss can feel, I’d guess.”
The game appeared in hand late in overtime as the Chargers built a 65-59 lead on a free throw by Riarus Dudley with 52 seconds left. But the Central defense lost Griffin in the corner, and he drained a 3-pointer to cut the lead in half. The Eagles stole the ball back immediately and kicked it again to Griffin, who made a 3-pointer with 28 seconds left to tie the game.
Central didn’t score again, turning the ball over on the next two possessions and the Eagles made two free throws to set the final margin. Joshua Evins missed a 3-pointer off the glass from just inside the halfcourt line at the buzzer.
