On Saturday, the Chattahoochee Cougars and Centennial Knights faced off in each team's final regular season game and the second game of their two game season series. The Cougars won the first meeting 87-67. With both teams having only one loss in the region standings, the winner would secure the number one seed for the upcoming region tournament, while the loser would take the number two seed.
The Knights came out and established themselves early led by some solid play on the boards by Wade Kahl (6 points, 9 rebounds) as they would close out the first quarter with a 10-7 lead. In the second quarter, the Cougars would trail by as many as seven, but would battle back, eventually taking a 15-14 lead, but the Knights would close out on a 8-4 run from their and hold a 22-19 lead at the half. Centennial would then outscore the Cougars 17-15 in the third quarter to lead 39-36 heading into the fourth quarter in which they would go up by as many as six, but the Cougars were not to be outdone, battling back to tie the game 52-52 and sending it into overtime. In the first OT period, the Knights would go up by as many as five after Kyle Duncan (21 points 11 rebounds) was fouled on a made shot in which he would add the free throw to make it a 57-52 game.
But the Cougars would again battle back after a AJ White would come up with a steal and knock down a three point basket to cut into the Knights' lead and then White would get fouled on a three point attempt and make good on all three free throws to tie the game at 58 all and send it into a second OT period. The second overtime would belong to Centennial. The Knights would outscore Chattahoochee 11-1 and go on to pick up the 69-59 win, splitting the season series with the Cougars and securing the No. 1 seed for their region tournament next week. Following the game, Centennial head coach, Matt Barksdale, credited his players’ mental strength as a contributor to their win. “I think we’re mentally a tougher team than we were a month ago,” Barksdale said. He continued, “Tonight, there were a couple possessions that did not do our way and we were tough and battled back through some adversity and were able to come out on top.” The Georgia High School Association Class 6A Region 7 tournament will begin next Wednesday.
