CUSSETA — For the first time in their history, the Towns County boys will play for a state championship.
The Indians rallied from a second half deficit to beat Chattahoochee County 59-45 Saturday on the road. They will take on Hancock Central, a 73-72 winner over Dublin in the other semifinal, next Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at the Macon Centreplex for the title. The Bulldogs are the reigning Class A Public champions and it is their third trip to the finals in the last five seasons.
It was the second straight road playoff win for Towns County (24-3) who beat Irwin County in the quarterfinals. It also ended the Panthers (16-2) best season in history.
Chattahoochee County led 25-23 at the half but the Indians used an 11-2 run over the final four minutes of the third quarter to take a 40-33 lead. They held Chattahoochee County to just 8 points in the third quarter and just 12 in the fourth quarter as they pulled away down the stretch.
The Panthers led 31-29 but Towns County finished the final 12 minutes on a 30-14 run.
Coming into the 2021 playoffs, Towns County had never advanced past the second round in the tournament’s current format and only once, in 1974, had the Indians won a playoff game.
The Indians are now 4-0 in the 2021 playoffs with one more to go.
