SWAC whips Whitefield Academy for Class A boys title

MACON - Dwight Howard scored 26 points, grabbed 20 rebounds and blocked 11 shots, leading Southwest Atlanta Christian to the Class A state championship in the last game of his high school career, and likely his last amateur one, too.<br> <br> Afterward, the 6-foot-11 center would not comment about his anticipated jump to the NBA, keeping his remarks to the trophy his team had just won.<br> <br> ``I wanted to leave the state of Georgia with a championship,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> Howard, projected as a possible No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, led the Warriors (31-2) to a 63-45 win over Whitefield Academy. It was the Warriors&#39; fourth win of the season over their Region 5-A rivals. The game was a rematch of the 2003 final, won 83-72 by Whitefield.<br> <br> ``He&#39;s just a special player,&#39;&#39; said coach Courtney Brooks. ``They really beat him up, but you never saw him get mad, never saw him do anything dirty. It takes a special person to do that.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Jarvis Crittenton scored 12 and Austin Dudley nine for Southwest Atlanta Christian, which scored the game&#39;s first 12 points and never trailed. The Warriors led by as many as 15 in the first quarter.<br> <br> ``I wanted to come out from the beginning and show everybody who we are and what we&#39;re about,&#39;&#39; Howard said.<br> <br> Whitefield (25-9) pulled within four two times in the second period, but Southwest Atlanta Christian closed the first half with a 10-2 run and never allowed the Wolfpack within 10 points after that.<br> <br> Cameron Heyward led the Wolfpack with 12 points.