The McEachern girls basketball team passed its toughest test of the 2016 Class AAAAAA tournament, and the Indians’ bid for a third consecutive championship is still alive.
The third-ranked Indians (23-7) broke open a close game with a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter and went on to a 62-45 victory Friday in the quarterfinals at the University of West Georgia.
McEachern will face Region 6 champion West Forsyth at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in Carrollton for a spot in the championship game. The Indians have won three of the past four state titles in the highest classification.
McEachern won by an average of 47.5 points in the first two rounds against Valdosta (90-33) and fifth-ranked Archer (87-49), but Westlake was able to stay close, at least until late. The Lions caused McEachern problems with their sizable front line of Taylor Hosendove and Rakeah Williams, who were particularly successful getting offensive rebounds.
But the Indians enjoyed a bigger advantage in the quickness of the guards, who pushed the tempo and proved to be the difference in the game. Jada Lewis (22 points), Que Morrison (19) and Chanel Wilson (15) scored all but six of McEachern’s points and all but one in the pivotal fourth quarter.
Westlake trailed 39-38 with 7:22 to play after a layup and free throw by Marissa Cantrell, who led the Lions with 16 points.
Wilson answered with a 3-pointer to spark McEachern’s closing run. Lewis had 13 points in the final quarter, most of which came on layups.
McEachern led 32-23 at halftime and increased the lead to 11 on a layup by Lewis. Westlake scored the next 12 points, taking its final lead of the night at 35-34 on a jumper by Cantrell with 3:33 to play in the quarter. McEachern then got three free throws by Morrison and a Lewis layup for a 39-35 lead heading into the final quarter.
Williams finished with 10 points for the Lions.
