Tricities

Kory Mincy scored 19 points and Simeon Cottle scored 16 to lead Tri-Cities to a 67-59 win over Eagle’s Landing to win the Class 5A boys championship on Thursday.

The victory avenged last year’s loss to Eagle’s Landing in the championship game and gave Tri-Cities another state trophy to go along with the one it claimed in 2019.

Tri-Cities led by 11 points early in the fourth quarter, but the determined Eagles refused to quit and drew as close as two points with 40.2 seconds left.

But Tri-Cities was unwavering at the line during the final minute making 8 of 9 free throws to hold off the challenge. Cottle, a Kennesaw State signee, was 12-for-15 from the line with five of those coming in the final 30 seconds.

Tri-Cities (23-5) also got 13 points from Noricco Danner before he fouled out.

Eagle’s Landing’s A.J. Barnes led the way with 17 points, 11 rebounds and three steals and Jordan Fordyce had 17 points with six rebounds and four steals. The Eagles finished the season 27-4.