By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

AUGUSTA – They finally met their match.

After winning a pair of road games to reach the quarterfinals of the Class AA state tournament, the Callaway Cavaliers found themselves matched up with Laney on Wednesday night with a berth in the semifinals on the line.

With big man Maurice Paige leading the way, it was Laney pulling away late for a 63-44 victory.

Laney advances to the semifinals to play Vidalia, while Callaway’s stellar tournament run came to a close.

Callaway (14-12), after finishing third in Region 5-AA, beat Banks County and Chattooga on the road to reach the quarterfinals for the third time in five years.

The Cavaliers were in a 10-1 hole early in Wednesday’s game, but Demetrius Coleman hit a pair of 3-pointers to help the visiting team climb back in it.

By the time the first quarter ended, Laney’s lead was 19-15.

Senior Jamichael Parks scored with one second left in the opening quarter to get the Cavaliers within four.

The Cavaliers fell behind by as many as 13 points in the second quarter, but once again they fought back to cut the Wildcats’ lead to 37-30 at the half.

The Cavaliers got within six early in the third quarter before the Wildcats took control, and the home team was ahead 49-35 heading to the fourth quarter.

The Cavaliers got as close as nine in the fourth quarter before the Wildcats put it away, with the 6-foot-5 Paige doing a lot of the damage.

Most of Callaway’s key players, including all five starters, return next season, so the 2019-2020 season could be another big one.

OF NOTE: For more on Wednesday’s game and the Cavaliers’ stellar season, see Friday’s sports section