ATHENS — Buford's girls basketball team knew the inside threat that Southwest DeKalb presented.
The Lady Wolves also believed that their defensive pressure and perimeter game could match whatever the Lady Panthers threw their way.
That indeed proved the case in Wednesday's Class AAAAA state championship game, as Buford ran away with a 60-42 victory in Athens.
(NOTE: Check back later for video highlights of the victory.)
"I've had the fortune to be in 10 state championships as a coach -- three at Dade County and seven here (at Buford) -- and it never gets old, but it changes each time because you want them for your kids," Lady Wolves coach Gene Durden said.
The victory handed the Lady Wolves (29-2) their fifth state title as a program and second in three seasons after winning the 2015 Class AAAA crown. That they did so again on Wednesday was thanks in large part to that defense, which kept Southwest DeKalb off balance early, as Buford built a nine-point halftime lead.
Buford forced 18 total turnovers, 12 in the first half, and, once they got accustomed to Southwest DeKalb's size inside, they largely neutralized that advantage in the second half, out-rebounding the Lady Panthers 18-17 after halftime -- though Southwest DeKalb finished with a 34-29 advantage on the boards.
"We felt like our press was hurting them there, but they were also getting some easy baskets," Durden said. "I really liked what we were able to do there in the last four-five minutes and sit back in the half-court and keep them in front of us."
That they had the option of changing things up in relative comfort was also thanks to the Lady Wolves' outside shooting -- they drained eight 3-pointers for the game, shooting 47 percent from beyond the arc. The Lady Panthers, meanwhile, went 0 for 6 from 3-point range.
Tory Ozment dropped four of those treys, capping an impressive performance that saw her finish with a game-high 18 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals. She put up 15 points in the first half, including three 3-pointers.
"Tory's a unique kid; she's 6-feet and she's a point guard; she's got long arms and she's so versatile," Durden said. "What I'm most proud of her tonight is her backside rebounding; she did a great job with that, and she's a tough match-up for anyone."
Jessica Nelson and Tate Walters also added nine points apiece -- Walters going 3-for-3 from the floor in just five minutes of work, while Nelson grabbed seven rebounds. Audrey Weiner also scored eight and grabbed six rebounds.
"We've got so much versatility, so many kids that can do things," Durden said. "And we had a lot of players come in and do well off the bench; they did a great job putting nails in the coffin."
Towering center Ogheneruona Uwusiaba led Southwest DeKalb with 16 points and 16 rebounds. But the Lady Panthers (27-5) leading scorer Jada Walton was held largely in check, scoring 13 points.
"Marissa Bruce is our defensive stopper, and when she was on (Walton) she had a hard time scoring," Durden said.
Both teams reverted to type almost immediately from the opening tip -- the Lady Wolves' full-court defensive pressure wreaking havoc on Southwest DeKalb's offensive rhythm. Of the 12 turnovers Buford forced in the first half it was split evenly, six per quarter. Yet when the Lady Panthers were able to break the Lady Wolves' press they found scoring opportunities -- most often due to their size inside. Southwest DeKalb ripped down 10 rebounds in the first quarter alone, including five offensive boards that helped the Lady Panthers stay within striking distance.
With the way Buford was shooting from deep, Southwest DeKalb needed every extra possession it could get.
The Lady Wolves drained 6 of 12 3-pointers attempted in the first half, including three for Ozment. The junior guard provided plenty of offensive spark for Buford, scoring 15 points while taking 11 of Buford's 27 first half shots.
Her back-to-back treys at the start of the second quarter helped Buford answer a 5-0 push from Southwest DeKalb at the end of the first quarter, handing the Lady Wolves a 22-13 advantage. The Lady Panthers pulled within 24-21 midway through the quarter, but a Weiner 3-pointer sparked a 10-2 Lady Wolves run that saw them take a 34-23 lead to the locker room.
Buford continued to stretch its advantage after the interval, forcing turnovers on three straight Southwest DeKalb possessions to open the half. And by the time Ozment sank her fourth 3-pointer with 5:45 left in the third quarter, Buford owned a 39-23 lead and was on its way to another title.
"Our first state championship team (in 2009) was dominant and had so many great players on it, but this one was just as dominant as they were," said Durden, whose team this season won five state playoff games by an average margin of 30 points. "And they deserve this."
Buford will graduate four key seniors from this team, including Bruce, Rachel Dobbs, Zikaya Wright and Pamela Johnson -- though juniors Ozment, Nelson, Weiner and Mary Walters return, along with freshman Tate Walters.
