AUGUSTA- A trio of seniors combined to score 50 points to lift the George Stevens boys basketball team to their third straight class C boys basketball state championship on Saturday night at the Augusta Civic Center.
Taylor Schildroth scored 20 of his game high 27 points in the second half as the Eagles defeated Hall-Dale 64-59. Schildroth made a three pointer at the end of the third quarter to give George Stevens (21-1) a 48-38 lead. The Eagles outscored Hall-Dale 19-11 in the third quarter. Schildroth made two more 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter to give George Stevens a comfortable advantage.
“The one at the end of the third I needed because i was struggling from the field at the beginning,”Schildroth said. “That was big, it put us up by 10 at the end of the quarter. Buzzer beaters always get everyone excited. We went up by 16 with six or seven minutes left, I knew if we played defense we would be fine.”
Max Mattson and Stefan Simmons combined to grab 23 rebounds as the Eagles out rebounded the Bulldogs 39-20.
“We wanted to go inside. We knew we had a size advantage,”George Stevens coach Dwayne Carter said. “I knew they wouldn’t be able to stop Max (Mattson) or Stefan (Simmons).”
Mattson added, “we knew they (Hall-Dale) weren’t as big as us. We knew we could out muscle them. They haven’t been going inside all tournament.”
This group of George Stevens seniors only lost six games in four years. They followed their only loss this season with 21 consecutive wins.
“Those are like my brothers. I have been playing with them since I was like four or five. In the driveway, on the eight foot hoops, on the nine foot hoops,”Schildroth said. “We have always dreamed about that. To win three in a row is just crazy.”
Schildroth added five assists and three steals to go along with his game high 27 points. Simmons recorded 13 points, 12 rebounds, and three steals. Mattson filled up the stat sheet with 10 points. 11 rebounds, seven blocks, and two steals.
“I have been playing with these guys since I was five years old. They are a great bunch of guys,”Mattson said. “We trust each other with everything. I had complete faith coming into this game.”
Carter added, “They are amazing. They don’t know how to lose. They only lost six games in four years. They will do anything for each other. They have been good leaders for the younger guys.”
Ashton Abbott scored a team high 22 points for the Bulldogs. Dean Jackman chipped in with 14. Hall-Dale finishes the season with a 20-2 record.
