DOUGLASVILLE — No. 5 seed Morgan County is heading back to the state championship after a 69–62 win over No. 16 seed Therrell in the GHSA Class 2A semifinal Friday at Legacy Arena in Douglas County.
The Dogs (24-6) relied on a strong fourth-quarter push to pull away from the Panthers (18-13) and advance to the title game.
Morgan County head coach Cody Anderson praised his players for their resilience.
“From the outside looking in, we've talked about this a lot,” Anderson said. “Our record looks like we haven't been challenged. Our record looks like this has been a white-collar group that hasn't been pushed. But we know what we've been through — on the court and off the court. We know how we practice every day.”
The Dogs came out firing in the first quarter, building a 23–11 lead behind hot shooting from freshman Trey Carter and sophomore Garrett Ward, who combined for five three-pointers. Morgan County played well on both ends, making their early advantage look easy.
Therrell fought back in the second quarter, led by senior point guard Andrew Taylor, who scored 14 of the Panthers’ 19 points in the period. Still, the Dogs maintained a narrow halftime lead, 34–30.
The Panthers took the lead late in the third quarter, using defensive pressure to force turnovers and extend their advantage to six points. Morgan County struggled offensively, trailing 43–37 at the 3:03 mark. That’s when senior point guard Zeki Locus, who had just two first-half points, scored six in the quarter. The Dogs entered the fourth trailing 50–47.
The final period was a back-and-forth battle.
Therrell led early, but a clutch three-pointer from Morgan County senior Jacoby Simmons tied the game at 64. Senior wing Kobi Jeffries then scored five straight points, and Locus added key baskets to give the Dogs a 63–56 lead with 2:07 remaining. The Panthers cut it to 65–62 with 22 seconds left, but Morgan County sealed the win with free throws.
Anderson highlighted his team’s focus on stopping Taylor, who finished with a game-high 24 points. He also praised his players for maintaining composure under pressure.
“Every coach wants to talk about consistency, and they want consistency. This is the most consistent group I've ever been around,” Anderson said. “Just like I knew the game wasn't over when we went up big in the first quarter, I knew it wasn't over when we got down seven. (Taylor) is a heck of a player, and we've got a great defensive team.
"We threw Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C, and then we came to Plan D: we've got to step up, take pride, and keep them all in front of us. We work really hard."
Four Dogs reached double figures in scoring. Locus led with 17 points, Ward added 14, and Simmons and Carter scored 10 apiece. Senior Jamir Pittman contributed six.
Anderson specifically noted the impact of Locus and Ward.
“Zeke gets a lot of respect and praise, but he also doesn't get enough. He's a heck of a player. He'll graduate here as one of the most decorated players in the history of this storied program,” Anderson said. “He’s just a winner. He's tough, and anytime a play has to be made, he finds himself around the ball. And then Garrett Ward — my goodness. The stage is never too big for him. He never gets too high, never gets too low.”
Morgan County returns to the state championship for the first time since 2019. The Dogs will face either No. 2 Butler or No. 6 KIPP Atlanta at the Macon Coliseum on Saturday, March 14, at 1 p.m.