We started the GHSA basketball state championships with three teams in Central Georgia looking to win it all. Wilkinson County and Warner Robins have already accomplished that, and now it's Upson Lee's turn. Their 62 game winning streak will be on the line as they head up north to Atlanta for the championship rematch against ST. Pius
For the second straight year at McCamish Pavilion, St. Pius and Upson Lee will battle for the 4-A basketball championship.
"I guess it's exciting, but we are not worried about that," senior Tye Fagan said. We are just worried about getting the win, no matter who it is. For it to be them again, I guess it's exciting for hte fans but we don't really care.
Last year's story ended with Upson Lee capturing their first state basketball title, and the Knights are hoping to do that again in the sequel.
"A lot of those guys came back and we have a lot of guys who came back as well," Upson Lee head coach Darrell Lockhart said. "It's going to be a chess match, two of the better teams in the state.
Last year Upson Lee won by 5 points.
"We played great defense in the first half, and then in the second half, we saw that we were up and we started watching the scoreboard and started letting up. We are going to try and keep the pressure on," Fagan said.
But this year, the pressure might be on the Knights to perform with what some teams call distractions. The knights are looking for back-to-back perfect seasons, riding a 62 game winning streak, but also have three players suspended for Saturday's game for trespassing and possession of marijuna.
"We haven't even thought about it, we moved on and we going to do what we can with these guys here, that's the focus." Lochart said.
Especially since some of those guys like Fagan are playing their final game as a Knight.
"All I want to do is have fun, no matter the outcome. Of course I am playing to win but this is my last time playing with these boys in an organized game, so I just want to have fun that's all I care about," Fagan said.
The game tips off at 4 pm on Saturday.