NORCROSS - The Jefferson High boys fell behind by 20 points early Wednesday against No. 1 Greater Atlanta Christian and lost 72-42 in the second round of the Class AA state playoffs in Norcross.

With the loss, the Dragons' season is finished with a 20-10 record.

"We were never able to do what we wanted to do," said Jefferson coach Bolling Dubose. "Our game plan was that if we could keep it close in the first half, we would hopefully make a run at them in the second half. To do that, we were going to pull the ball out when we didn't have a fast break and run some clock."

The Dragons' plan never got off the ground, as GAC (25-5), the back-to-back state champion in Class AA, jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead to force a Jefferson timeout.

That deficit grew to 15-2 two minutes later to force another timeout by the Dragons.

"We got down by 10 or 15 quick and when that happens you have to just tell them to go out and play," Dubose said.

Greater Atlanta Christian's Delano Spencer and Collin Swinton combined for 28 first half points to lead to a 40-19 halftime lead. Spencer finished with 17, while Swinton had 18.

Cole Hobbs had 19 points for the Spartans, 15 of which came of 3-pointers.

Jefferson was led by Austin Thompson with 16 points, but the senior was shutout in the first and fourth quarters of the game following his 34-point performance in the first round.