Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

MACON – The LaGrange Grangers finally met their match.

After winning 31 straight games to reach the championship round of the Class AAA state tournament, the Grangers ended up on the wrong end of a 54-46 decision against DeKalb County’s Columbia High Saturday in the Macon Coliseum.

The Grangers fought back from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to get as close as seven points in the final moments, but the Eagles hung on to secure the state title.

“We had a chance,” LaGrange head coach Mike Pauley said. “If we could have finished a couple more baskets, it could have tightened up just a little bit.”

It was a disappointing ending to what was a spectacular season for the Grangers, who the Region 2-AAA regular-season and tournament titles before winning four games at state to reach the championship game.

“We have nothing to be ashamed of,” Pauley said. “I hated that we didn’t bring home a championship, but we’ve got no regrets.”

The Grangers were within four at the half, but the Eagles began the third period on an 11-1 run to build a 31-16 lead.

The Grangers were down by 14 when Jake Pauley came off the bench and hit a 3-pointer with 2:03 left in the game to cut Columbia’s lead to 49-38.

Royal Thomas’ dunk with 1:43 left made it a 49-40 game, and Jamius Gunsby converted two free throws with 1:32 remaining to pull LaGrange within seven.

After the Eagles went back up by 10, Antione Green’s 3-pointer with 43 seconds left again made it a seven-point game, but the Grangers came no closer.

Dionte Mains led LaGrange with 11 ponts, while Royal Thomas scored 11.

JerShon Cobb scored 20 points for Columbia.

OF NOTE: For full coverage of Saturday’s championship round as well as the Grangers’ memorable season, see Monday’s sports section.