Lithia Springs Gains Spot in State Playoffs

has barely been beating opponents this season. The Lions average just a three-point margin of victory yet came into their first Region 5-AAAA tournament game Wednesday as the No. 2 seed.

The Kell Longhorns came into the game at Lithia Springs still missing their top two scorers and having battled for a one-point victory over Douglas County in the previous round.

Kell ambushed Lithia Springs in the first quarter. The Longhorns played an eight-minute stretch as perfectly as any team could.

“We came out ridiculously hot,” said head coach Keith Whitaker.

At the end of the first quarter, Kell led 23-5. At that point, Lithia Springs head coach Jason Slate told his team: “I’m not worried about what the score is at the end of the first. I’m worried about what the score is at the end of the fourth.”

With that sage advice in hand, the Lions began to chip away, going on an 11-3 run to start the second quarter.

Junior Femi Ojuolape had 20 points on the game—all coming from the second quarter on—which helped the Lions slowly climb back.

Lithia Springs' constant full-court press began to tire the Longhorn’s depleted backcourt. Senior Nick Baumann’s electrifying ball handling, which brought the mostly pro-Lions crowd to its feet on several occasions, was put to an endurance test.

“He’s an awesome point guard," Slate said. "We just tried to contain him and wear him down."

At halftime, the Kell lead had been trimmed to eight, 33-25.

Lithia Springs began playing to its strength in the second half. The game’s tempo turned into an up-and-down affair, with lots of long jumpers. The Lions style of spreading the ball around and knocking down jump shots helped cut the lead to just five after three quarters.

Early in the fourth, Kell sophomore guard Brendt Pickens fouled out, leaving an already hobbled backcourt with one less player. Lithia Springs’ Ojuolape scored nine of his 20 in the fourth, and senior Michael Taylor connected on his last three free throws to bring the Lions all the way back.

The Lions held on to win 65-58, earning a place in the state playoffs. They also gained a spot in the Region 5-AAAA semifinals against Villa Rica on Friday at Kell High School.

Slate summed up his team’s performance: “Typical Lithia Springs fashion—spot them 25 then come back in the fourth quarter to pull it out … Typical Lithia fashion.”

Kell finished the season with a lot of promise going forward. After setting a school record with 12 wins, Whitaker spoke highly of the roster he will be bringing back next season.

“We’ve got three really talented freshman. We’ve got a lot coming back next year," he said. "Our style is going to change a little bit, and I’m looking forward to getting back to it.”