Heritage boys' season ends with big loss to Columbia

RINGGOLD, Ga. - The Heritage scorekeeper started filling in the lineup for the Generals' next game.

That game will be next year.

Heritage fell to an overwhelming Columbia squad 70-38 in the first round of the Class AAAA state playoffs Wednesday.

"We hung with them for a while," Heritage coach Kevin Terry said. "We played tough in the first quarter and played tough in the second quarter, but they started hitting some shots."

None of the Generals scored double figures against the Eagles, who were taller and more athletic at almost every position for every minute of the game.

Tylon Gaines led Heritage with nine points. All 14 Generals on the roster played; Terry inserted his deep reserves with more than five minutes remaining in the game.

"They had the length up to keep our guys from getting open looks," Terry said. "Our post has been our strength this years, and they just swallowed us up. We were outmatched.

Jalen Cobb led Columbia (14-12) with 17 points, Justin Longstreet scored 14, Jerrick Cobb totaled 12 and Jerron Little added 10.

"Our size was really important tonight because they really couldn't get shots over us," Columbia coach Curtis Gilleylen said. "We made an adjustment and really wore them down."

The Generals were tied at eight after the first quarter. They trailed 30-19 at halftime, then 46-31 through three quarters. The Eagles scored on all but five possessions in the fourth quarter in opening the margin.

"Everything we tried, they had an answer for," Heritage senior guard Hunter Erickson said. "It was tough to score, for sure."

The Generals ended with a 20-9 record, the second straight season reaching 20 wins.

"We had a pretty good season," Erickson said. "It was a fun season."

Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP

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