Eagle’s Landing tops Columbia 61-47 for AAAA title

MACON, Ga. (AP) — Isaiah Dennis and Desmond Ringer scored 17 points apiece to lead Eagle’s Landing to a 61-47 win over Columbia Thursday night in the GHSA Class AAAA state championship game.

Ringer, who has signed with South Carolina, made 8 of 9 field goal attempts and grabbed 14 rebounds. Eric Wortham Jr. added 12 points for the Golden Eagles, who won the first boys basketball state championship by a Henry County school.

Tahj Shamsid-Deen led Columbia with 21 points.

Columbia (27-4) cut a 13-point deficit to four points early in the fourth quarter, but Eagle’s Landing (23-4) used an 8-2 run to regain a 10-point lead with three minutes to play. Columbia never got closer than 10 from then on.

The Golden Eagles (23-4) shot 45.3 percent (24 of 53) from the floor, while Columbia shot 31.8 percent (21 of 66).

Columbia’s quest for a fourth straight state championship came up short.