Dawson Co. defeats GAC to win Region 7-3A Championship

The Dawson Co. Tigers (25-2, 12-0 Region 7-3A) defeated the Greater Atlanta Christian Spartans (20-8, 9-3 Region 7-3A) 70-63 in overtime in the Region 7-3A championship on Monday night at East Hall. The Tigers scored the first seven points of overtime and held the lead to secure the win.

The Region 7-3A Co-Players of the Year Campbell Reed and Jasper Gibson had big games for the Tigers. Reed led Dawson Co. with 21 points, and Gibson scored 15. Mason Barnes, another Tiger on the All-Region team, scored 17 points and had eight rebounds, and Eli Burress had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Dawson Co. used a big first quarter to gain an early lead. They outscored the Spartans 18-6 in the period to take control of the game.

The Tigers had another commanding stretch in the second quarter, this time a 7-0 run. However, GAC ended the half on a 9-0 run to only trail 30-22 at halftime.

The Spartans cut the lead to only three by scoring the first five points of the second half. Dawson Co. responded with an 8-0 run to get the lead back to double digits. GAC had another late run and finished the period on an 8-2 run as the Tigers only led 45-39 heading into the fourth quarter.

GAC scored the first six points of the fourth to tie the game at 45. A Spartan 3-pointer moments later gave them their first lead since 2-0 less than a minute into the game. Dawson Co. was able to regain the lead but lost it again on a pair of GAC free throws with a little over a minute left.

Reed hit a long 3-pointer with 1:06 left in the period to take a one point lead. A pair of free throws from Gibson after a stop on defense gave the Tigers a three point lead with 25 seconds remaining. Eight seconds later, the Spartans were headed to the line for three free throws, after a foul was called on Barnes. After GAC hit all three free throws, the Tigers had a shot to win the game in regulation. Gibson drove baseline and found Reed in the corner. His shot clanked off the side of the rim, and the teams were headed to overtime, tied at 58.

GAC won the tip-off in overtime, but Gibson stole the ball to gain possession for his team. Reed was able to score the first points of overtime after an offensive rebound from senior Brody Howell. On the following possession, Reed found Burress for an easy lay-up to give them a two possession lead. The Tiger defense held the Spartans scoreless for the first 2 minutes of overtime until they hit a free throw. Reed and Burress each scored four points in overtime to lead the Tigers to a second consecutive Region 7-3A championship.