In a thrilling rematch of the region championship, the CCA Patriots faced off against the First Preparatory Christian Academy Highlanders for the Class A state title. The last time these teams met, CCA claimed victory in overtime on a dramatic last-second shot.
This time, however, FPCA came out strong, surging to a 17-8 lead after the first quarter. The Patriots struggled with turnovers and went into halftime trailing 37-26.
CCA fought back in the second half, cutting the deficit to just three points late in the third quarter. But in the closing minutes, forced to foul in an attempt to regain possession, the Patriots saw FPCA capitalize at the free-throw line, sealing a 59-48 victory for the Highlanders.
Juniors Grey McLean and Blake Bryant led the Patriots’ scoring effort with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Coach Jared Roberts shared the following after the game:
“I’m incredibly proud of this team’s effort throughout the season. They battled through the toughest region in the league and showed tremendous growth along the way. It was an honor to coach such a dedicated and hardworking group.”
CCA closes the season with an 18-11 overall record, earning the titles of GIAA Region 6A Champions and GIAA Class A State Runner-Up.