Boys basketball: Johnson wraps up first-ever undefeated regular season

MONROE -- The Class AAAA second-ranked Johnson boys basketball team completed its first-ever undefeated regular season with a 69-63 win over Monroe Area Friday night on the road in both teams' Region 8-AAAA finale.<br /> <br /> The Knights (24-0, 8-0 Region 8-AAAA) opened with a 15-9 first quarter but would take just a 24-23 lead into halftime. Johnson opened up a 50-37 lead after the third quarter and then held off a late rally by Monroe Area in the fourth quarter.<br /> <br /> Rod English had a huge game for the Knights with 18 points and 10 rebounds and Daemonte Nicholson had perhaps his best game of the season with 13 points and 10 assists. Ty Cockfield led Johnson in scoring with 20 points and Mitchell Dunham added 11 points.<br /> <br /> Willie Taylor led Monroe Area (15-10, 4-4) with 17 points. Emory Sheets added 14 points for the Purple Hurricanes.<br /> <br /> Johnson will play host to the winner of the Region 8-AAAA play-in game between Stephens County and North Oconee on Tuesday.