Jammie West led four players in double figures with 20 points as Laney beat Manchester 67-53 Saturday in the GHSA Class AA boys championship game at the Macon Coliseum.

Laney had never played in a state championship game prior to Saturday.

The Wildcats (28-4) led by as many as 25 points in the fourth quarter before the Blue Devils (23-3) went on a furious run to get within eight points. Zay Echols made five fourth-quarter 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 29 points. All five of the shots came behind the college 3-point line with a defender in his face.

Manchester couldn’t sustain the pace, however, and Laney made enough free throws in the final two minutes of the game to cushion its lead.

-- Jonathan Heeter

Lovett 52, Buford 45

Christen Johnson scored on three consecutive fourth-quarter possessions to lead Lovett to a 52-45 upset of three-time defending champion Buford Saturday in the GHSA Class AA girls championship game at the Macon Coliseum.

Tatianna Jackson led Lovett with 20 points, while Sydney Umeri scored 13 and Johnson added 12. Kaela Davis led Buford with 14 before fouling out late in the game.

The Lions (28-5) had never advanced past the quarterfinals prior to this season.

-- Jonathan Heeter

Whitefield Academy 73, Athens Christian 50

Kenneth Gaines scored 26 points to lead Whitefield Academy to a 73-50 win over Athens Christian Saturday in the boys GHSA Class A championship game at the Macon Coliseum.

Eric Lockett added 18 points for the Wolfpack, who won their third state championship in school history.

Will Jackson led Athens Christian (30-3) with 20 points, while Zach Lillie added 18.

The Wolfpack (29-3) pulled away from the Eagles after leading by five at the end of the first quarter. The Whitefield defense held Jackson to just five points in the second half after the freshman scored 15 in the first half.

--Jonathan Heeter

Wesleyan 68, Southwest Atlanta Christian 44

The Wesleyan Wolves won their fifth straight state championship by defeating Southwest Atlanta Christian Saturday by a final score of 68-44.

Katie Frerking scored 20 points and Holli Wilkins added 19 as the Wolves used a 22-1 run in the first half to build a lead they woud never relinquish.

The state championship is the ninth in the past 11 years for the Wolves. Shavontae Naylor led the way for SACA with 15 points.

-- John Kosater

The rest of Saturday's championship schedule:

3 p.m.: Buford vs. Lovett, girls, Class AA

4:45 p.m.: Manchester vs. Laney, boys, Class AA

7 p.m.: Washington County vs. Columbia, girls, Class AAA

8:45 p.m.: Drew vs. Columbia, boys, Class AAA