Second-ranked Grayson breezes past defending state champ McEachern in GHSAA semifinal

Deivon Smith leads five Rams in double figures to help dethrone defending state champs and 2018-19 National Player of the Year Sharife Cooper.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Jordan Divens
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Feb 29, 2020, 8:00pm
Video: Grayson beats McEachern in 7A semifinal
Highlights of the Rams 82-76 win over the defending 7A champs. 

Mississippi State-signee Deivon Smith scored 21 points to lead No. 2 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) to a 82-76 Georgia High School Athletic Association Class AAAAAAA semifinal victory over defending state champion McEachern (Powder Springs) on Saturday night at Buford City Arena.

A back-and-forth first half saw the Indians take a 29-27 advantage at halftime, before the Rams (30-1) busted things open in the second half to win their 22nd straight game.

Grayson got out in transition and stifled the Indians defensively in the second half, using a 30-13 third quarter spurt to propel the Rams into the state finals.

Although the defending state champions battled hard to make things interesting late in the fourth, the Rams were able to knock down important free throws down the stretch to hold on.

While Smith paced Grayson, five Rams scored in double figures as University of South Florida-signee Caleb Murphy chipped in 18 points, Toneari Lane added 16, and Josh Smith and Ian Schieffelin scored 11 points apiece.

The Indians' loss marks the end of an era, as Auburn-signee Sharife Cooper finished his spectacular high school career with a record of 109-12 over his four years. He was the first player to win MaxPreps National Player of the Year as a junior last season.

Israel Palmer led McEachern with 22 points, while Cooper scored 21 and Cam McDowell contributed 17.

Grayson advances to next Saturday's state title game, when they will take on Wheeler (Marietta) (23-7).

Wheeler defeated Milton 59-47 in the first  GHSAA Class AAAAAAA semifinal showdown on Saturday. The Wildcats were paced by Denver-signee Sam Hines Jr. who finished with 19 points, while standout sophomore Bruce Thornton surpassed the 1,000 career point mark with a game-high 28 points in the loss.

The Rams enter Saturday's championship game as favorites to capture its first state title in program history, winning their previous meeting this season with Wheeler 73-68 in early December.
Deivon Smith led Grayson with 21 points.
Deivon Smith led Grayson with 21 points.
File photo by Will Fagan

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