By Seth Ellerbee/Score Atlanta
Jonesboro took control early and never looked back as the two-time defending champion Cardinals punched a return ticket to Macon to face Liberty County in next week’s AAAA state championship. The Cardinals outscored Grady 21-8 in the second quarter. Grady standout Avi Toomer, the hero who hit the last second shot to pull his team past Westover, was hindered by foul trouble as he finished with 17 points.
“At this point when you get here, you don’t have to put a lot of pressure on them” said Jonesboro head coach Daniel Maehlman of his 2016 state finalists. “The biggest thing we stress is going out and doing what we do and having fun. I think we’re pretty focused. I feel a lot of people counted us out when we played Carrollton and it was a one-point game at home, like these guys might be fizzling out, but our kids really stepped up to the challenge. We have continue to defend, we have to block out and do what were coached to do. I have great kids and I demand a lot out of them, but that’s why were so good, they go out and execute it on the floor.”
Jonesboro was led by Tariq Jenkins and James Walker Jr. both with 22 points. Eric Lovett added 10 points. Grady also found scoring from Tykwaan Bryant who scored 12 points.
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