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Buford boys fall in state finals
First appearance in championship game since 2001
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Buford's Jake Burnette reacts to Saturday's loss against GAC in the Class AA state title game in Macon. - photo by Don Rodenroth

MACON - This time there was no coming back.

After two straight come-from-behind wins that advanced them to Class AA championship game, the Buford Wolves trailed by 15 points midway through the second quarter en route to a 76-36 loss Saturday at the Macon Centreplex.

"I don't think we could hit, and I don't think they could miss," Buford coach Allen Whitehart said. "Everything was clicking for them."

University of Virginia commit Malcolm Brogdon scored a game-high 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead the Spartans to their second straight state championship.

Brogdon averaged 30 points in both Greater Atlanta Christian wins over Buford during the regular season.

The defeat ends a remarkable season for Buford (24-9), which went from three straight losing seasons to the Class AA title game. This was the fourth second-place finish for Buford, and the first since 2001.

Alex Flagler, one of seven seniors on this year's team, led Buford with 12 points.

Buford scored only seven points (on 3-of-9 shooting) in the first quarter, which was one less than Brogdon had. The senior scored 10 more points in the second quarter before turning the game over to his teammates after halftime.
Trent Boyd took over in the third quarter for GAC, scoring eight points on 4-of-6 shooting. Boyd, who finished with 13 points, sparked an 18-3 run that pushed GAC's lead to 20 points with 4:20 left in the third.

Two minutes later, a Paul Dawson 3-pointer inflated that lead to 26 points, and by the time A.J. Davis threw down a thunderous dunk in the fourth quarter, GAC had built an impressive 33-point lead. Davis, the twin brother of Buford High's Kaela Davis, finished with 14 points.

"It's a learning experience," Whitehart said. "No one gave us a chance this year, and I'm very proud of the kids and what they accomplished.

"I think we'll be fine moving forward," he added. "I think we laid the foundation for a winning program."

 

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