MACON - It took 29 years, but Hephzibah coach Wendell Lofton finally has a state championship.<br>
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The Rebels (32-0) beat Kendrick 72-64 Saturday in the Georgia High School Association's Class AAA girls championship at the Macon Coliseum. It was their first victory in four trips to the final.<br>
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``I wasn't in the locker room when it was said, but one of the assistant coaches told the girls, 'Lets go win this one for coach Lofton,''' Lofton said. ``I was just trying to get them ready for Kendricks pressure.''<br>
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Kendrick used its press to get off to a fast start, leading 24-17 after a quarter. But by halftime Hephzibah had trimmed the lead to 35-34. The Rebels took the lead for good with 4:42 remaining behind a 7-0 streak and never allowed Kendrick to get closer than three points.<br>
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``These girls lover pressure; they just eat it up,'' Lofton said. ``They play to the level of the other team. When the other team is good, they play good.''<br>
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Hephzibah was led by LaCoya Terry with 19 points, Charlotte Styles with 14 and Porsha White with 11.<br>
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Kendrick (31-1) was led by Rachelle Washington with 20 points, Leschelle Matthews with 14 and Rosetta Hollis with 13.<br>
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Kendrick was trying to become the first Columbus team to win a girls basketball championship.
