ATLANTA, GA – Down by one, Westlake senior Anthony Banks toed the free throw line with 9.6 seconds left to play in back-and-forth game with region foe Douglas County and did something few could do in this match-up – knock down both shots.

The two made free throws put Westlake up 74-73 and proved to be the game-winning scores as Douglas County guard Corey Tillery missed as point blank layup at the buzzer.

Westlake head coach Darron Rogers made his way back to the Lions locker room to decompress from the back-and-forth win. He smiled and gave the most accurate statement he could muster.

“Welcome to Region 3-AAAAAA.” Rogers said. That’s what it is like here.”

It was one of those types of games. Truth be told, a game like this was exactly what you’d expect this season in Georgia. As region play really begins this week across the state, teams like these two will trade punches all season long.

For a coach like Rogers, these are the types of games that you learn from and apply late into the season.

“We knew they were going to come out with their hair on fire. It was the teacher against the student,” Rogers said of the Douglas County coaching staff. DC’s staff either played or coached with Rogers over the last 25 years.

“They wanted to beat us bad. They had a good game plan. They have all of the pieces. They were ready to play. We are blessed to get away with a win.”

Westlake had big games from seniors Raymond Saunders (21 points), Tyler Williams (12 points) and Dominic Joseph (11 points). For the Lions, senior production has been the story all season long. In this win, senior experience came through when it mattered.

“Any time we’ve been successful, we’ve had senior leadership,” Rogers said. “The senior leadership is the one thing that will pull us through. “

Saunders was good down the stretch, making tough buckets against tough defenders. Williams was big in the third quarter, scoring nine key points to help the team take its first lead of the game with 4:35 to play in the third quarter.

Douglas County came out scorching to start the game. The Tigers were up by 14 points in the first quarter. Rogers said he needed to do some teaching with Williams, one of his senior go-to players.

“Tyler, our best scorer and top player, got too emotional and got away from the team play. He got in trouble in the first half so I had to sit him down and compose him,” Rogers said. “I think that was the best lesson he could have learned. He just had to keep his composure.”

All and all, it was all about balance, experience and home court advantage for Westlake. For any team in the state, that formula works well no matter who you are.