GAINESVILLE - While senior Whitney Randolph usually receives most of the attention, it was fellow senior Melissa Johnson that stole the show for the Johnson girls basketball team Monday night.
Johnson swiped three consecutive Gainesville passes in the final minute to help the Lady Knights preserve a 55-54 victory in a classic Region 7-AAA Championship game at the Gainesville gym.
"Melissa came up huge for us when we needed someone to make a play on defense," Johnson coach Benji Wood said. "She doesn't overwhelm you with stats but she is as good a big-game player as we've had."
The Lady Knights (25-3) will take the region's top seed into Friday's first round state playoff game against Hart County at the Johnson gym. The time of tip-off has not yet been announced.
Gainesville (23-5) will play host to Elbert County Friday.
Johnson's first steal gave the Lady Knights their final lead and the Lady Elephants failed on their last four possessions in the final minute to get a shot off. The Lady Knights missed the front end of two one-and-one free throw attempts that could've put the game away.
"We worked hard on our defense and we felt confident that we could come in here and win if we played good defense. It feels great to be able to help my team win the region," Johnson said.
The game lived up to the hype between two of the best teams in the state. In the first 31 minutes, the lead changed hands 18 times and was tied eight other times.
In the third quarter, Gainesville took advantage of Johnson star Whitney Randolph being on the bench with three fouls going on a 9-2 run to take a 35-32 lead.
But after Randolph reentered, the Lady Knights responded with a 14-4 run to colose out the third quarter for a 46-39 lead.
But again Gainesville answered, this time with a 13-5 run behind its senior star Kita Waller to take a 52-51 lead.
Gainesville coach Manson Hill said his team left it all on the court.
"They played their hearts out. Johnson just made a few more plays than we did at the end. It was a tremendous game between two great teams," Hill said.
Randolph finished with 20 points to lead Johnson. Kaylyn Young added 11 and Johnson had just four points, but the game-winner on her game-changing steal.
Waller led Gainesville with a game-high 21 points. Lauren Darnell and Katrina Randolph each had nine points for the Lady Elephants. Erin Tyre had five points and 13 rebounds.
(By Jeff Hart)
Sunday
May 19th, 2024
8:01AM
