Ryze Recap - State Title Games- 3/11/26

Game 1:

Holy Innocents' - 50

Darlington - 53

Darlington vs Holy Innocents' was a matchup that saw one team looking to repeat as state champs another appearing in the program's first ever title game and seeking its first state title. In the opening minutes, both teams showed early game jitters. Holy Innocent's senior guard Jordan Mays scored the first five points of the game, however both teams still struggled to find an offensive rhythm. Midway through the first quarter both teams found some offense, but the Tigers still only manufactured 6 first quarter points. Darlington would go on a 7-0 run to open the 2nd quarter which led to a quick Holy Innocents' timeout. From there both teams traded blows. Darlington took a 2-point lead into the half which was quickly erased by the Golden Bears as they opened the 3rd quarter with a 5-0 run of their own. At this time junior guard DJ Hall began to put his fingerprint on the game. The trio of sophomore guard Jaden McCullough, senior forward Khalid Worthy, and Belmont-signee Devin Hutcherson began to come alive for the Golden Bears as they continued to apply defensive and offensive pressure on the Tigers, but the playmaking and scoring of DJ Hall combined with interior presence of Joseph Ogunyemi and timely shot making of Cam Selig and Brent Bell gave the Tigers their first ever GHSA State Championship. DJ Hall scored 30 points, tallied 7 assists, and grabbed 6 rebounds which made him the MVP of the game.

Game 2:

Cross Creek - 56

Harlem - 51

The matchup of Harlem vs Cross Creek served as the nightcap on the boy's side of the GHSA State Championship and it was a back-and-forth game from start to finish. Harlem forward Chris Gandy was a pleasant surprise as he provided energy on the offensive glass and scored six points in the opening quarter. Both teams went into the half tied at 24 with AJ Williams scoring 12 points for Harlem and Dontrell Jackson leading Cross Creek with 14. The 3rd quarter belonged to AJ Williams as he scored 10 of his team's 14 points to give the Bulldogs a 38-34 lead going into the 4th quarter. The final quarter was nip and tuck as neither team would lead by more than two points, but it was a three-point make by Frashad Tisby that would give Cross Creek the lead for good and secure the GHSA State Championship for Cross Creek. Dontrell Jackson would finish with 25 points and 7 rebounds, Frashad Tisby poured in 16 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and blocked five shots, while Derrick Shine, Jr. chipped in with 11 points in the win.