Shaq Goodwin, a Memphis signee, scored 14 points and had nine rebounds, and Jordan Price, bound for Auburn, scored 19 points in the victory. Chattahoochee’s Jaron Blossomgame, who has signed with Clemson, scored 32 with 10 rebounds.
‘’We doubled him [Blossomgame] up in the last two minutes and defended down the stretch, and that was probably the key,’’ McKinney said. “We’ve lost a lot of games because we didn’t close out games like this.’’
Ranked No. 4, Southwest DeKalb has lost only to No. 1 Miller Grove since Jan. 1.
This quarterfinal was a well-played on each side. Both teams made five 3-pointers in the first quarter Price and Kadarius Turner had two apiece for Southwest, which led 25-20.
Blossomgame was quiet early, as his teammates scored Chattahoochee’s first 14 points. Rashon Dumas made two 3-pointers. But Blossomgame scored his team’s next 14 points, and the pattern was set.
‘’Jaron had a great game,’’ said Goodwin, a McDonald’s All-American. ‘’As far as a slasher and and perimeter player going to the hole, he’s one of the toughest we’ve played. He never gives up on a possession.’’