Despite getting out to a huge lead thanks to star inside player Anma Onyeuku, the Fayette County girls needed some big plays down stretch from its backcourt star Tessah Holt as they held on to beat a very game Jonesboro team, 43-41, on Wednesday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. The victory sets up a rematch of last year’s Class 4A finals with Southwest DeKalb. “To be playing for a state championship two years in a row, I’m proud of that fact,” said Fayette County head coach John Strickland. “They made a great run at it and we answered. We answered at the end to win the game.”
Onyeuku, who led all scorers with 23 points, was unstoppable early on, scoring eight of the Lady Tigers first-quarter points to help Fayette County hold a 12-5 advantage after the opening period. She continued her scoring frenzy in the second period by adding 11 more to her total and the Lady Tigers led 31-15 at halftime. Sasha Sims had all 10 of her points in the first half as she combined with Onyeuku to score all but two of Fayette County’s points for the half.
What appeared to be a rout was turned into anyone’s game thanks to the Jonesboro backcourt of Drameka Griggs and Joi Holyfield. Griggs came up with an eight-point third quarter and the Lady Cardinals cut Fayette County’s lead to 35-30 heading into the fourth. At the start of the fourth quarter, Holyfield converted a three-point play to bring Jonesboro within 35-33 and, with 3:25 remaining in the game, hit a jump shot to tie the score at 39-39. She led the Lady Cardinals with 16 points, while Griggs added 13.
That is when Fayette County’s senior point guard and University of Florida signee Tessah Holt stepped up. Held scoreless until late in the third quarter, Holt saved her best for last. She answered the game-tying shot from Holyfield, who is also her cousin, with a hanging jumper to put the Lady Tigers back in front 41-39. Then after Holyfield missed a 3-pointer, Holt drove in for a layup to give Fayette County a 43-39 lead with 1:04 left to play. “My cousin stepped up, she had some big shots and [Griggs] did, too,” Holt said. “[But] we had to slow the game up. I stepped up.”
“That’s what great players do, they step up. When the game is on the line they want the ball in their hands and she came through with some nice shots,” Strickland said.”
Holyfield scored to bring Jonesboro within two and then got a steal with 30 seconds left, giving the Lady Cardinals a chance to tie or take the lead. Griggs could not convert on a lay up and Chanee Key missed a put-back attempt as Fayette County held on for the win. Jonesboro head coach Jimmy Fields Jr. talked about the difficulties of facing a team with an inside-outside punch like the Lady Tigers.
“I really wanted to face guard [Holt] and I wanted to front [Onyeuku],” Fields Jr. said. “But Onyeuku was a little quicker than my post players, so that’s how she beat us down the court.
“It’s hard to find a high school girls team that has that combination with great guard play and great post play,” Fields said.
Nevertheless he was pleased with his team’s season. “I’m just so proud of the girls,” Fields said. “I just hated we couldn’t get to the championship game, but they have nothing to whole their heads down [about].
Meanwhile, Fayette County turned its attention toward Southwest DeKalb, the team that beat the Lady Tigers in last year’s 4A finals. “I’m so ready for Southwest DeKalb,” Holt said. “We’re super ready. We’re super hyped. That’s who we wanted, so we’re coming after them next.”
Fayette County ran its record to 31-0 and will meet the Lady Panthers on Friday at 3 p.m. at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.
Butler can be reached at jbutler@scoreatl.com.
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