DALTON, Ga. – For a moment, the standing-room-only crowd in Christian Heritage School’s gym grew eerily silent as Zach Gentry’s 3-point shot hit the back of the rim and went skyward.
A second later, the home fans erupted as the ball fell through the net, turning around a two-point deficit against Mount Vernon Presbyterian in the final minute of their GHSA Class A private school state tournament game Thursday night.
The top-seeded Lions (27-2), with the lead regained for the first time in the final quarter, then clamped down defensively to win the second-round matchup 52-50. They will host Holy Innocents’ either Tuesday or Wednesday in next week’s quarterfinals.
Also in the state quarterfinals are the Christian Heritage girls, who began the night’s doubleheader with a 60-47 win over Athens Academy. The Lady Lions will travel to Holy Innocents’.
“It just goes back to the players,” said Lions coach Tyler Watkins, whose team had a first-round bye because of its seed. “Mount Vernon did a great job of taking away some of our guys. They are very athletic and so well-coached.