LIVE BLOG: Spartans vs. Tigers for the Class AAA state boys basketball championship

UPDATE: Watch video from the victory celebration

It's 8:58 on a championship Saturday night in Macon. The Glenn Hills team is warming up.

There is 3:00 left to go until the starters are announced. Estimated start time is 9:06 P.M. from The Macon Coliseum.

It's the Carver-Columbus (22-9) Tigers vs. the Glenn Hills Spartans (28-2) from Macon.

Check back for periodic scoring updates on the blog.

9:14 PM: Carver takes an early lead. CC 7, GH 2. 4:57 1Q.

9:17 PM: TV Timeout. CC 8, GH 2 4:22 1Q

9:25 PM CC 15, GH 14. End of 1Q.

Both teams turning the ball over. GH has four TO's. CC has six TOs. Reggie Middleton (5 pts, 3 assists, 3 rebounds) is playing very well for GH. Shawn Allen has 4 points off the bench for Glenn Hills.

The Spartans are in foul trouble. Starters Jihad McCloud and Jerel Stephenson both have two fouls.

9:35 PM. Another TV timeout. GH 23, CC 19. 4:16 left in 2Q.

The Spartans continue to play superb defense during the postseason. Carver has nine turnovers.

9:48 PM. Halftime. Stat parade time. Glenn Hills is up 33-24.

The Spartans have made 7 of their 20 shots. They've ripped down 16 rebounds and turned the ball over 13 times. I'll use a fan's quote to tell everyone about what Reggie Middleton is doing for the Spartans right now.

"Keep carrying them on your back Reggie," a very vocal Spartan fan just behind me said during the quarter. "Keep carrying them."

He's right. Middleton has 13 points, four assists and three rebounds. He's 6-for-6 from the free throw line despite playing with a bandaged-up thumb that he hurt against Hart County in the semifinals last night.

Other big plusses for the Glenn Hills championship bid are reserves Shawn Allen and Andre White. Allen has six points and three rebounds. White has five points.

Glenn Hills standouts Chris Reynolds and Jerel Stephenson have just six points combined. The good works of Mr. Allen and Mr. White and picking up the slack for those future college players.

I like Jihad McCloud more and more every time I see him. He has no points but five rebounds at the half. Not bad for a 5-foot-9 hustling guard that can jump with anyone he wants to. His effort level is also a part of a fine defensive effort so far.

As for Carver, things aren't so hot. They have 15 turnovers and their leading scorer has three fouls at the break. But all-world linebacker Jarvis Jones has 10 points to lead the Tigers. Carver is being denied on the offensive end by the Spartans. The reiging Class AAA football champions are shooting just 6-for-23 at the break. They are also 0-for-5 from three-point range. The Tigers do have 13 rebounds.

9:59 PM. GH 35, GH 28. 6:09 left in 3Q.

10:03 PM. Media timeout. GH 36, CC 30. 4:37 left in 3Q.

Carver starting point guard Emilio Johnson now has four fouls. He'll sit and watch for a while.

10:08 PM. Timeout. GH 41, CC 31. Spartans fans might want to go to Burger King and pick up a few crowns for the family.

I may look like a complete goof for saying this so early, but I don't see any way that the Spartans let this one slip away tonight.

10:20 PM GH 47, CC 41. E3Q.

10:28 PM Stephenson has fouled out for GH. But it still looks good for the Augusta folks. GH 55, CC 47. 3:43 left to go in the game.

I can't say enough how well Shawn Allen is playing tonight with Chris Reynolds and Jerel Stephenson both having off nights. Allen has 14 points and seven rebounds.

10:35 PM: It's getting tighter. GH 58, CC 51. 2:23 left to go.

Jihad McCloud has just fouled out for Glenn Hills. Future Florida State wide receiver Jarmon Fortson has also fouled out for the Tigers.

Middleton just drained two free throws to keep the Tigers at bay.

10:38 PM: GH 59, CC 53. Middleton just missed his first free thow a minute back. He was nine for nine until that miss. There is 1:25 left to play in the game.

10:42 PM: GH 59, CC 55. :55 left

10:42 PM: GH 59, CC 55. :48 left.

There's 48 seconds left until a possible GH state title. Who's happy about that?

10:43 PM: GH 61, CC 55. Allen just nailed two big free throws. :33 left.

10:46 PM: GH 63, CC 57. :08

10:47 PM: Final. GH 64, CC 57.

UPDATE: Watch video from the victory celebration