There were two first-time state champions crowned on the first night of the GHSA basketball tournament at the Macon Coliseum, while two other programs added to their legacy.

The Greenforest Christian girls and North Oconee boys brought home the big trophy for the first time. Baldwin’s girls, who were second a year ago, won its fourth title, but first since 1988. The Greenforest boys earned their fifth state championship.

The tournament continues Friday. In Class 2A, the defending state champion Mount Paran girls play Josey at 1 p.m. and defending champion Westside-Augusta plays Toombs County at 3 p.m. The Class 5A finals feature Maynard Jackson vs. Midtown at 5:30 p.m., and defending state champion Kell vs. Eagle’s Landing, a rematch of last year’s final, at 7:30 p.m. The 3-point coed contest will be held at 5 p.m.

Girls: Class A Division II

No. 1-ranked Greenforest Christian used a big second half and defeated No. 2-ranked Montgomery County 39-28 to bring home the school’s first championship.

The Eagles (27-5) were le by Milica Lazarevic with 11 points and Arek Monoon with 10 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots. The Eagles finished the season with a 15-game winning streak.

Montgomery County (30-2) got 13 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and two steals from Marley Bell.

Greenforest led 14-12 at halftime, extended the lead to four points after three quarters and outscored Montgomery County 13-6 in the final quarter.

Greenforest outscored Montgomery 26-6 in the paint and scored 11 second-chance points.

Click here to see the official box score.

Boys: Class A Division II

Elijah Lewis scored a game-high 18 points and helped No. 1-ranked Greenforest Christian to a 68-39 win over Manchester and bring home the school’s fifth state championship.

The Eagles (27-4) finished the season on a 21-game winning streak. They outscored the opposition by an average of 36 points in five state playoff games.

Lewis was 7-for-11 from the field and hit two 3-pointers to spark the balanced Greenforest offense. The Eagles also got 11 points and 11 rebounds from Caleb Kawela, nine points and seven rebounds from Daniel Daramola, eight points from Michael Robinson and seven points and nine rebounds from Russ White.

Manchester (21-9) was led by Treylin Jones with 14 points and Daryus Bryant, 10 points and seven rebounds, and Jhi Terry with nine points five rebounds.

Click here to see the official box score. 

Girls: Class 4A

Madison Ruff scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Janaye Walker added 15 points and 13 rebounds to lead No. 1 Baldwin to a 47-39 win over No. 2 Hardaway.

Baldwin trailed by as many as 16 points in the third quarter before roaring to tie the game 36-36 with 3:22 remaining on Ruff’s three-point play. After Hardaway’s Mikayl Johnson scored a 3-pointer, Baldwin took control and scored the final 11 points of the game.

Baldwin (29-2) also got nine points and seven rebounds Kassidy Neal and won the school’s fourth state champions and first since 1988. The Braves lost in the championship game last season.

Hardaway (27-5) was led by Adazha Burrell with 13 points and Akilah Shelton with 12 points and nine rebounds. Johnson scored nine points and had seven rebounds.

Click here to see the official box score. 

Boys: Class 4A

Byrd Carter scored 20 points and freshman Justin White scored 19 to lead North Oconee to a 65-60 win over No. 4 Holy Innocents’ and bring the school its first state championship.

Carter had a 3-pointer and White added three more consecutive 3s to spark a 14-0 run in the third quarter and give the Titans a lead they never relinquished.

North Oconee (30-3) got 20 points and six rebounds from Carter, 19 points from Wise, 14 points and six rebounds from Khamari Brooks and nine rebounds from Evan Montgomery.

Holy Innocents’ (26-7) was led by five-star junior Caleb Wilson with 26 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks, and sophomore Devin Hutcherson with 23 points and 13 rebounds.

Click here to see the official box score.