CUMMING, GA – Getting back to the state playoffs and the region championship game were part of Alpharetta High’s to-do-list this season.

Many believed since the Raiders graduated so many players these goals were out of reach. It’s a good thing Alpharetta wasn’t paying attention to its critics.

The Raiders punched their ticket to the Class AAAAAA state playoffs with a win on Saturday night and then secured a spot in tonight’s Region 6 championship game with a 62-50 win over Chattahoochee at West Forsyth High on Monday. Alpharetta plays top-seed Lambert at 8:30 pm.

“A lot of people weren’t expecting us to get back here,” said Raiders’ coach Frederick Hunt, about getting to the region finals. “That was our No. 1 goal.”

Alpharetta jumped on the Cougars early going on a 14-1 run to start the game. Chattahoochee was forced to take two timeouts in the first quarter. The Raiders defense and offensive output stunned everyone in attendance.

Brian Roberts and Afam Maduka were the catalysts jump started Alpharetta’s offense. Roberts orchestrated everything from the point getting open shots for teammates in transition and the half court set. He even knocked down a few shots of his own. Maduka helped with the offensive barrage hitting several three-pointers. Roberts finished with a team-high 16 points. Maduka added 14.

However, the Raiders cushion was short lived because of the Cougars ability to score, specifically Marcus Sheffield. The 6-foot-6 junior guard willed his team back from several double-digit leads. He hit mid-range jumpers, three-pointers and free throws.

Chattahoochee cut the lead down to 53-43 late in the fourth quarter but that was the closest it got the rest of the night. Alpharetta did not have an answer for Sheffield despite putting a box-and-one on him. He finished with a game-high 28 points. Teammate Avery Ward finished with 10 points.

“We knew we couldn’t stop him,” Hunt said. “We wanted him to work extra hard. It’s hard to stop him.”

Getting out to the early lead also helped Alpharetta as well.

“They hit five three’s in the first quarter,” Cougars coach Kacey Martin said. “We had to spend way too much energy getting back into the game. They hit some big shots when they needed them.”

Alpharetta’s Devontae Cacock had eight points and nine rebounds.