Story By Heath Hambrick
Tuesday night, history was made for the Geraldine Bulldogs. For the first time in the rich history of Geraldine basketball, the Bulldogs won their third consecutive area championship. Geraldine defeated the Collinsville Panthers 46-38.
The Panthers led after the first quarter, 10-6, then Geraldine took control, leading at the end of the next three quarters (19-12, 30-23, 46-38).
After going scoreless in the first quarter, Geraldine Cooper Johnson found his stroke in the second quarter, collecting 10 points to gain the lead for the Bulldogs. On defense, Geraldine made it difficult for Collinsville to get anything going on offense as they were held to just two points in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, each team scored 11 points. Mason McAteer and Sam Stewart were able to find some open looks from behind the arc as they each made three pointers for Collinsville.
In the final quarter, Sylas Adams led the way from Collinsville with seven points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Johnson and the Bulldogs.
Johnson scored another ten points in the final quarter to lead Geraldine to a victory.
Johnson led Geraldine with 24 points, going 12 for 12 from the free throw line; he was the only Bulldog in double figures. Sylas Adams led Collinsville with 1o points.
Geraldine improves to 22-10 as Collinsville falls to 16-7 on the season. Geraldine will host Randolph County, while Collinsville will travel to Weaver on Saturday for the Northeast sub-regional.
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM
Geraldine: Cooper Johnson (MVP), Braxton Franklin, Noah Butler.
Collinsville: Mason McAteer and Sam Stewart.
Sylvania: Bennett Hawes.
3A Area 13 semifinal
Geraldine 60, Sylvania 31
The Bulldogs led at the end of each quarter (10-2, 25-11, 40-21, 60-31).
Noah Butler led Geraldine with 13 points, Ridge Smith and Cooper Johnson each scored 12 points, and AJ Carter scored 11 points. Bennett Hawes led Sylvania with 16 points.
Sylvania's season ends with a 2-21 record.
Collinsville 47, Fyffe 40 (ot)
Sam Stewart led Collinsville with 18 points, and Sylas Adams scored 13 points.
Fyffe's season ends with an 11-15 record.
