SPARTANS REACH ELITE EIGHT IN STATE PLAYOFFS

The South Paulding boys basketball team are still alive in the State playoffs. South Paulding won a thriller against Coffee County 90-82 to advance to the 3rd round. The boys representing the school on Winn road have done just that win,win,win. as their record has risen to 28-1. They will host South Cobb of Austell in the next round on Wednesday.
The game itself was a bitter struggle that the outcome could have went either way. After the end of the 1st quarter the score was tied at 16. However, Coffee County from Douglas Georgia showed their strength in front of a packed Spartan gym by outscoring South 19 to 9 in the 2nd quarter to take a 10 point lead into the locker room.
South Paulding must have gotten a wake up call in the locker room and came out with vigor and tied the score up in less than 3 minutes of the 3rd quarter. From that point on the game was a back and forth struggle with the lead changing hands several times until the final buzzer. South Paulding tied the game in the 4th quarter with 5 seconds left as Drew Shepherd drained a 3 pointer, Coffee had a chance but a contested layup attempt as time expired was off the mark forcing the game into overtime tied at 75. In the 4 minute overtime South outscored the Trojans 15 to 7 to advance to the next round. I've seen this team play many times this season and they are simply a team that plays with confidence and a refuse to lose attitude. Some of this may be due to the tough region they played in and also the Senior leadership they exhibit. Of the final 8 teams, 3 of them are from region 5 which South won.
Another interesting statistic from the game was that all of Souths scoring came from just 4 players. Ja' Cori Wilson led the way with 30, Kane Williams poured in 25 and Drew Shepherd and DJ Jackson combined for the other 35 points. It has been a joy to watch these young men compete and play at such a high level, if you have not seen them play you have missed out. Visit the school on Winn road and support them against South Cobb. GO SPARTANS and GOOD LUCK!

​Ja' Cori Wilson brought the house down with a tomahawk dunk right before halftime. Wilson poured in 30 points in the victory over Coffee County. ​Drew Shepherd tight ropes the baseline against a tough Coffee County squad. Shepherd sent the game into overtime by draining a 3 pointer with seconds left in regulation,forcing the game into overtime where the Spartans came out on top.​DJ Jackson creates space for a layup.​Ja' Cori Wilson on a drive.​It was Neon Night for the students as the Spartans shone brightly.