Langston Hughes tops Bradwell Institute for first state title game berth in program history
As the Georgia High School Association basketball state championship tournament continued as the Langston Hughes Panthers took on the Bradwell Institute Tigers in the Class 5A semifinals as the Panthers looked to advance to the state finals for the first time in program history, while a win for the Tigers would send them to the title game for the sixth time in program history.
As the game got underway, Bradwell would open up taking an early 4-3 lead however the Panthers would quickly adjust to go on a 12-4 run to close out the period with a 15-8 lead as Jocelyn Faison scored 6 of her 8 points in the period.
As the second quarter got underway, Karrell Green gave the Panthers a huge spark as 11 of her 25 points, including two three pointers, came in the period while defensively, Hughes held the Tigers scoreless for the first two minutes and 18 seconds of the quarter and outscored Bradwell 16-9 to take a 31-17 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Tigers' offense would get a much needed boost finishing the period with 15 points, however were unable to slow the momentum of the Panthers and in particular, Green as the junior scored 9 points to help Langston Hughes outscore Bradwell 18-15 and take a 49-32 lead into the fourth quarter.
As they closed out the game outscoring Bradwell 17-14, Langston Hughes would go on to pick up the 66-46 win to earn their first ever state title championship berth. "Man it feels great! Great for the community, the kids, for the girls, for everybody a part of Langston Hughes, everybody that's put something into this team and I'm just overcome with joy," Panthers' head coach, Xavier Trice, said following their historic win.
As Trice praised his players for their efforts in Friday's win, he highlighted Green's night in particular off the bench despite "going through a lot" however giving the Panthers a much needed lift as multiple Panthers' starters got into early foul trouble. "She just came in and gave us the spark that we needed off the bench and stepped in huge when the starters got in foul trouble. That whole second unit was amazing," Trice said.
Now with a trip to Macon secured and officially "over the hump", Trice and the Panthers will look to stay healthy in preparation of seeking their first state championship. "We've done the work all year, we just have to be healthy, tighten up a few things and be ready for the adjustments that whoever we play are going to make," Trice added.
