St. Pius X — Georgia’s Last Unbeaten

The most anticipated story heading into Macon was whether St. Pius X could complete an unblemished season on the sport’s biggest stage. They could. They did. The Golden Lions defeated Pace Academy 54–51 to claim the first state championship in school history and finish a perfect 33–0 — the only team in Georgia to go wire-to-wire without a loss.

Clemson signee Harris Reynolds was the engine all season, and he delivered when it mattered most — 23 points and 9 rebounds in the championship game. But it was guard Westin Keppen who sealed the moment, burying a pivotal 3-pointer to break a late tie and put the Lions ahead for good, finishing with 13 points.

Pace Academy made them earn every point. Jaydon Avery poured in 19, Hayden Clay added 11 points and 14 rebounds, and Gavin Fountain chipped in 10 points and 7 rebounds. But in the end, it was the Golden Lions’ night — history written in navy and gold.

Wheeler — A Dynasty Reloaded

If St. Pius was the feel-good story of new beginnings, Wheeler was the reminder of what sustained excellence looks like. The Wildcats claimed their 11th state championship and second in a row, cementing their status as the premier program in Class 6A — having now won six of the last eight titles.

Senior Colben Landrew was everything for Wheeler — 29 points and 12 rebounds in the championship game, a performance that defined his career. LaMarrion Lewis added 11 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals to pace a deep, battle-tested Wildcats squad.

Pebblebrook, led by Kennesaw State signee Zyree Brown, was making its third title-game appearance under coach George Washington. Alexander Jones led the Falcons with 18 points, while Donald McMillian and Anthony Moon each added 11. But Wheeler was simply too experienced, too deep, and too locked in to be denied.

Darlington — Rome Rewrites Its Story

For the Darlington Tigers, March 11 was unlike anything in school history. The Tigers defeated Holy Innocents’ 53–50 in the Private Boys championship — the first state title ever won by the program. And the architect of it all was junior D.J. Hall, who put on one of the most dazzling individual performances of the entire tournament week.

Hall finished with 30 points, going 5-for-8 from three-point range, with 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals. It was a maestro’s performance — especially remarkable given that foul trouble forced him to the bench for long stretches earlier in the tournament run. When Hall was on the floor, Darlington was simply a different team. The Tigers finished 30–2, and Rome has a banner to hang.

Rabun County — The Mountains Finally Crown a Champion

Up in the Blue Ridge foothills, they’ve been waiting a long time for this. Rabun County finally has a state championship banner to hang, and the man who delivered it is heading to the United States Naval Academy.

Navy commit Huey Blalock scored 29 points — going 11-for-23 from the field — with 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals as the Wildcats dismantled Southwest Macon 52–43. Hayes Free added 12 points and 8 rebounds to complement Blalock’s brilliance. It was a first state title for the program, earned on the biggest stage, in the most fitting fashion.

Alexander — Back on Top

Alexander came to Macon with championship pedigree — and left with their second state title, defeating Woodward Academy 81–67 in a game that turned on a single jaw-dropping moment.

With the game tied at 58–58 heading into the fourth quarter, Gregory Dunson capped a wild third quarter by draining a 3-pointer from near midcourt at the buzzer — a shot that swung all the momentum. Alexander then outscored Woodward 25–12 in the final period to turn a thriller into a convincing victory.

Woodward had been red-hot getting to Macon. Sophomore Myles Hayes buried a game-winning 3-pointer with 6 seconds left to upset previously undefeated Gainesville 62–61 in the semifinals — one of the most electrifying moments of the entire playoffs. The War Eagles’ Hayes and Bentley Lusakueno are names to watch in the years ahead. But on championship night, Alexander simply had too much.

Cross Creek — Four Times, Four Wins, One Trophy

The Cross Creek Razorbacks didn’t just win a state championship — they owned Harlem all season long, completing a 4-0 sweep of their Region 4-3A rival to claim the Class 3A title 56–51 in a hard-fought championship game. Two wins in the regular season, one in the region tournament, and now one in Macon. Business as usual for Augusta’s premier program.

The hero was Westside transfer Drontrell Jackson — a two-time state champion with the Patriots who brought championship DNA to Cross Creek. The senior delivered when it mattered most, scoring 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting with a handful of clutch plays down the stretch. Star junior Frashad Tisby — the Region 4 co-Player of the Year — contributed 16 points and 7 boards, and Derrick Shine added 11 points.

Harlem’s story is one of heartbreak. Standout guard Ty Shine went down with a leg injury early in the first quarter and never returned, forcing the Bulldogs to lean entirely on 2027 guard A.J. Williams. Williams responded with a championship-caliber performance — 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting with 6 rebounds, refusing to let Harlem fold. Christian Gandy added 12 points. Without Shine, though, the Bulldogs simply couldn’t find enough at the end. Cross Creek’s third state title is their most complete statement yet.

Morgan County — Free Throws, Overtime, and Forever

Of all the dramatic finishes in a week full of them, none topped what happened in the Class 2A championship. Morgan County, seeded fifth, came to Macon and knocked off defending champion Butler 53–52 in overtime — on two ice-cold free throws with 6.3 seconds left.

Zeki Locus was the story. The Morgan County standout finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds — a double-double for the ages in a championship game — before stepping to the line with the title on the line and delivering both free throws without a flinch. Butler’s Kwamane Bridges was brilliant in a losing effort, pouring in 22 points, but the Bulldogs held on.

Morgan County had punched their ticket to the title game by ousting No. 6 Therrell 69–62 in the semifinals. No one gave the fifth-seeded Bulldogs much of a chance to unseat the defending champs. Zeki Locus didn’t get that memo.

Clinch County — Ending a 37-Year Wait

Deep in South Georgia, Clinch County hadn’t won a boys basketball state title since 1989. The Panthers were long overdue. A sophomore named Traviian Miller made sure the drought ended in Macon.

Miller recorded 25 points and 12 rebounds against Portal to claim the Class A-II crown. Jakyri Posely added 15 points and 7 rebounds, and Kamarion Johnson chipped in 10 points. That a sophomore carried this championship says everything you need to know about what’s coming next for Clinch County. The 37-year wait is over — and the future is bright.

The Bigger Picture

Three programs — St. Pius X, Darlington, and Rabun County — won their first state championships ever. Clinch County ended a nearly four-decade drought. Morgan County knocked off a defending champion as a five-seed in overtime. And Wheeler kept rolling, adding another chapter to one of the most impressive dynasties in Georgia prep sports.

Championship week in Macon is never just about basketball. It’s about communities, programs, coaches, and players who grind all season for four days in March. In 2026, it delivered eight unforgettable stories — each one worthy of a banner, a parade, and a place in Georgia high school basketball lore.