NORCROSS, GA — When the brackets were finalized last weekend, it didn’t take long to see which game would prove to be the best one in the AAA state tournament. 

Greater Atlanta Christian would play host to Lovett in a pairing of teams that split a series in region play last season. The two Atlanta area private schools didn’t play each other this season because of region realignment. 

It didn’t take long to understand this one would be a fun one. Back and forth the teams went, trading buckets throughout the game. Neither team held a massive lead throughout the contest. 

So this game would come down to the little things. Lovett did just enough to win on the road 62-58. 

Sophomore Ryan Greer was outstanding in the clutch for the victors. The sophomore guard toed the line and was perfect from the foul line in the fourth quarter, the entire game actually, and finished with 27 points. 

He had to sink the free throws right in the face of the boisterous GAC student section. 

“I had to hit a lot of free throws (over the last two years) so I guess it doesn’t phase me,” Greer said.

He was 10-10 from the charity stripe. Defensively, Greer had a streak and score that proved to be the go-ahead bucket with 2:56 to play. He also grabbed seven rebounds, handed out four assists and had three steals. 

“He’s really mentally tough. He’s very good in those situations. He wants the ball in his hand. He is about 80 percent from the foul line on the year,” Lovett head coach Ryan Koudele said. “He puts in so much work off the floor and extra work in practice. He’s prepared for those situations.” 

GAC would always get close enough thanks to the hot hand of sophomore guard Roy Hixon. The 5-foot-8 shooter hit eight of nine three-pointers in the game en route to 30 points. Hixon was in a zone all night long. 

Ultimately, Lovett won because GAC didn’t have a lot of second chance opportunities. 

“Our kids locked in. We tried to convince our kids to hold them to one shot. Just be solid defensively and hold them to one shot. They made some tough shots in the first half. We were just like ‘what are you going to do”? It’s the playoffs and good players make shots and they did. But the last five minutes we settled them down and made them work for that one shot and didn’t give them easy looks,” Koudele said.

“My assistant said we only gave up two offensive boards in the second half. That’s huge.” 

Lovett will have their hands full in the second round with a trip to Crisp County next week in Cordele.