Collins Hill, Stephenson advance to AAAAA girls final

DULUTH - Center Ashley Thomas had 12 points and nine rebounds to lead Stephenson to an 80-55 victory over Carver-Columbus in a girls Class AAAAA semifinal Wednesday.<br> <br> Stephenson (31-1) will face Collins Hill (32-0), a 75-53 winner over Mt. Zion-Jonesboro for the championship Friday.<br> <br> Thomas, an LSU signee, scored six points in the third quarter as Stephenson took a six-point halftime lead and built it into a 54-34 advantage. Guard LeDella English scored 21 points to lead Carver-Columbus (26-4).<br> <br> Stephenson lost to Parkview in the state title game last year. The DeKalb County-based Jaguars beat Collins Hill, a state champion in 2001 and 2002, in the second round last March.<br> <br> Freshman Maya Moore scored 28 of her 30 points in the first half as Collins Hill advanced to the Class AAAAA state championship for the third time in four years.<br> <br> Collins Hill will be facing the team that eliminated the Lady Eagles in the second round of the state tournament last year.<br> <br> Greteya Kelley pulled down seven rebounds and added 15 points for Collins Hill, which won consecutive titles in 2001-02.<br> <br> Mt. Zion (19-12) got 15 points from Shaka Dennison and 12 from Ashaunte Bussey.<br> <br> Moore, who entered with a 16.8-point scoring average, is the state&#39;s best freshman girl since Gainesville&#39;s Tasha Humphrey emerged three years ago. Humphrey, a Georgia signee who scored 35 points to lead the Red Elephants past Flowery Branch on Monday, is attempting to help Gainesville win its third Class AAA title in four years.

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