LFO boys to host in state basketball playoffs
The LFO Warriors have enjoyed a historical season so far and checked off another goal from their list on Friday night.
Not only did LFO set a new single-season record for highest regular season winning percentage in the program’s history (.840) and qualify for the state playoffs for the first time since 2003, they earned a spot in the region championship game for the first time in nearly a quarter-century after a 57-46 win over upstart Adairsville in the 6-AAA semifinals at North Murray High School.
Second-seeded LFO (224) was scheduled to take on top-seeded North Murray in the championship game on Monday night. Results were not available as of press time. Friday’s win also assured the Red-and-white of at least one home playoff game in the Class 3A state tournament.
LFO scored the first 10 points of the game against the Tigers and then used back-to-back 3-pointers by Jacob King and Cameron Gregg to help build a 20-4 lead with less than two minutes to go in the opening period.
But after going over 3:30 to start the game without scoring a point, sixth-seeded Adairsville — who upset third-seeded Murray County in the quarterfinals — reversed that trend. The Tigers scored the last seven points of the first quarter and the first eight points of the second quarter as they came storming back the cut the Warriors’ lead to 20-19.
Jamichael Davis would break Adairsville’s run on a bucket with 3:52 left in the half, but behind the inside presence of 6-foot-9 center Jaxon Welchel, the Tigers would stay close and they would go into the locker room down just three points, 24-21.
The Green-and-gold would
WARRIORS,