Calhoun and Christian Heritage withstood fourth-quarter challenges Saturday night to reach next week’s GHSA boys’ basketball state quarterfinals in their respective classifications.
Calhoun (23-2), the Region 7-AAA champion, led by just three points entering the final period at home against Dawson County, but Jaxon Moore scored four straight and assisted on Parks Layson’s layup to push the advantage to 45-38 for the Yellow Jackets. A minute later, and after a score by the Tigers, Layson added another layup and Trey Perkins scored after Jaden Perkins rebounded a Calhoun miss for a nine-point lead.
The visitors, seeded 14th, never got closer than six the rest of the way in the second-round matchup.
Trace Hawkins again led third-seeded Calhoun, scoring 22 points and adding five assists and two steals, while Moore had 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals, and Layson led in rebounds with eight.
“Our depth really paid off tonight,” Calhoun coach Vince Layson said. “We had some guys get in foul trouble, and we were able to weather the storm thanks to our bench. We went cold in the third quarter, but were able to pick the pace back up in the fourth and play our style of basketball to finish it out.”