Last year, Jonesboro’s victory in Macon came to the surprise of a few spectators around the state.

Returning all of their key pieces, this year’s appearance in the state title game came as a shock to no one.

A tough Carrollton team was the opposition this time around for the Cardinals, and they gave them everything they wanted and more.

Carrollton’s game plan revolved around their star big man and Georgia Southern signee Montae Glenn, who had a fantastic performance and gave the always-aggressive Jonesboro defense fits all night.

Glenn finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Carrollton also got some big plays down the stretch from Cooper Criswell and Desmond Webb.

However, it was the pressure that Jonesboro applied to the Carrollton backcourt and the energy plays that made the difference in this one for the Cardinals.

The star on this night for Jonesboro, just as it was in Macon last year, was Tracy Hector, who brought a lot of those energy plays and flirted with a triple double, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 steals.

Along with Hector, Jonesboro sophomore stud MJ Walker gave the Cardinals 23 big points, including 8 in the final 30 seconds.

Behind the two of them as well as a double figure effort from point guard Austin Donaldson, Jonesboro was able to squeak out a win 55-50 in their closest win of the season.

The win capped off another 30+ win season for Jonesboro and completed an undefeated in-state run, with the Cardinals only loss coming to national powerhouse Montverde Academy.