Campbell girls in state tournament; boys looking to join tonight

Thirteen years and counting is nice, but coach Randy McClure is ready for a different streak to come to a close.

Under McClure’s guidance, the sixth-ranked Lady Spartans have qualified for the high school state basketball tournament 13 consecutive seasons following the team’s 67-33 Region 4-AAAAA tournament dismantling of visiting Pebblebrook on Tuesday night.

“It never gets old,’’ McClure said after his team clinched a spot in the region tournament semifinals, which come Thursday night when the Lady Spartans play at rival McEachern. “This one is special because these girls weren’t even in school when this streak started.’’

Campbell’s inability to get to the state’s final four, though, has become a burdensome streak that it would like to snap. Five times since 2005, the Lady Spartans have advanced to the state quarterfinals, but then no further. Last year, they won 24 of 31 games and the Region 6-AAAAA championship, but bowed to eventual state champ Norcross in the state quarterfinals. 

“This is just the first step,’’ McClure said while acknowledging that Thursday’s task would be a difficult one versus the fifth-ranked Lady Indians. The winner will play for the region title on Saturday, while the loser will have to settle for the third-place game that same day. Each of the four region tournament semifinalists will advance to next week’s state tournament.

Campbell ended McEachern’s season last year and turned back the Lady Indians in both regular season meetings this year. McEachern improved to 19-5 on the season with a 65-30 win over South Cobb in the first tournament game played at Wills Gym Tuesday night.

In the nightcap, the Lady Spartans were never threatened and easily handled an out-matched Pebblebrook team that ended its season at 6-19. Campbell improved to 20-6 on the season as a trio of seniors paved the way to victory. Erica Norwood scored a game-high 21 points to go along with five steals. Angel Foster turned in a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds while Chakecia Miller added 11 points to go along with nine steals.

While the Lady Spartans will deal with trying to defeat a McEachern team for a third time this season Thursday evening, the boys will look to turn back Kennesaw Mountain High School, 13-11, for a third straight meeting this year tonight at Wills Gym.

Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in a game that will qualify the winner for the state tournament and end season for the loser. The 10th-ranked Spartans, 19-6, won 77-65 at Kennesaw Mountain in mid-January and scored a 63-54 win over the visiting Mustangs this past Friday night.

“It’s do-or-die and we’ve got to make sure the kids understand that so we can extend the season,’’ Campbell coach James Gwyn said.

The Spartans have won three straight games, all without the services of leading scorer, Justin Seymour, who suffered a high ankle sprain in an overtime loss at Harrison on Feb. 4.  Gwyn said he was hopeful his junior guard would be able to go tonight.

“It’s going to be a game-time decision,’’ he said. “If he can run, he’ll play. We’ve won three straight without him, but we’re obviously a much better team with him.’’

Campbell still has a solid one-two scoring punch with senior Roderick Perkins and junior Matt Cotton, and Gwyn said he has been pleased with some bench players who have stepped up late in the season.

“Rasheed Merritt is a sophomore who has played more the last five or six games, putting the ball in the basket and not making mistakes,’’ Gwyn said. “And junior Donshea Henderson has been contributing. We feel good about the rotation we have now.’’

McEachern, seeded third in the region tournament, and No. 6 seed South Cobb, will also play at Wills Gym in a game set to begin at 6 p.m.