The Piney Grove Grizzlies won their second consecutive 8th Grade Boys' Basketball Championship on Saturday, taking control of the game late in their 44-37 victory over the South Forsyth Eagles. The Grizzlies finished their 2024-25 campaign with a 10-3 record, which included an eight game winning streak to close out the year.
When the two championship contenders met during the regular season, the game was a closely contested, high scoring matchup in which both teams led late in the 4th quarter. When the final buzzer sounded, the Eagles came out on top 59-56.
Saturday's Championship Game would turn out to be completely different, except for the game being closely contested, which it was throughout.
1st Quarter: Both teams started off strong on the defensive side of the ball. South Forsyth led 10-9 at the end of the first quarter. Grant Cooper scored half of his team's points, including the first of his four 3-pointers.
2nd Quarter: Once again, it was a struggle for each team to score in the second stanza. At the half, Piney Grove pulled ahead by two points, 18-16. After struggling from the line in the first quarter, the Grizzlies knocked down five free throws. Preston Asher had three of the five makes in the quarter.
At halftime, the Riverwatch boys' basketball team was awarded with the Sportsmanship Award.
3rd Quarter: The two teams put up their most points so far in the game in the third quarter. South Forsyth's Grant Cooper lit up the scoreboard with eight points. Piney Grove's Connor Regan countered with five points to help the Grizzlies hold onto a one point lead, 30-29, going into the fourth quarter.
4th Quarter: Just like the first three quarters, the lead changed hands in the fourth quarter numerous times. The game was tied at 34-34 when Piney Grove's Kellan Cox hit the first of his two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. South Forsyth's Deslan Jackson immediately tied the game once again with his first 3-pointer of the night. The next 3-pointer made by Kellan Cox put the Grizzlies up for good at 40-37. After a couple misses by the Eagles, the Grizzlies' Jordan Drewry was able to put the game away with four free throws.
8th Grade Boys' Basketball Championship
February 1, 2025 @ East Forsyth High School
Piney Grove (44) vs South Forsyth (37)