Class A Boys (public): Wilcox County 65, Portal 56

Fort Valley — In a game that included momentary second-quarter delay because half the lights in the Fort Valley State gym went out, Wilcox County (23-4) used an 18-2 third-quarter run to earn a spot in the state final.

Jonathan Howard scored 23 points and Makail Grace 18 for the Patriots.

Portal (22-8) led 35-32 after a 3-pointer by Tyler Budgett early in the third period, but a pair of threes by Grace sparked the big Wilcox run. The Patriots led by as many as 14 in the second half, that cominga t 55-41 with six minutes left.

Wilcox opened the game with a 5-0 run and sprinted to a 17-8 lead in the first quarter. Using hot perimeter shooting, Portal clawed back into the game. Robert Lee hit a pair of 3-pointers and Stacey Morgan added another in a 9-0 run that gave the Panthers their first lead at 30-27.

Morgan led Portal with 15 points, while Treston White had 13 and Lee finished with 11.