Kell’s sensational freshman point guard Crystal Henderson did nearly everything she could to lift the Lady Longhorns to their first Georgia state basketball title on Friday.
Weaving up and down the court all night at the Macon Coliseum, Henderson was a handful for one of the state’s best girls basketball programs around.
When she buried a 3-point basket with nine seconds to play in the game, Kell had cut Buford’s lead to 65-63. Kell then fouled Buford’s star player, Tate Walters, who made one of two free throws.
That left the door open for Kell and Henderson, who launched a long shot at the buzzer.
This time, it didn’t go in, and what had been a dream season for the Lady Longhorns ended with their only loss of the season.
Kell was 32-0 coming into the Georgia High School Association Class 5A championship against a team that had been there many times before.
Buford had won seven previous state titles, and was aiming for a fourth in a row.
The Lady Wolves got off to a hot start and led 16-10 at the end of the first quarter.
Kell went on a big streak in the second quarter, led by Henderson, who scored 15 points in the first half.
After Mikyah Favors hit a 3, Henderson stole a pass and scored to give the Lady Longhorns at 26-18 lead.
The teams were tied 29-29 at halftime, and Buford regained momentum in the third quarter.
Henderson had been checked offensively until late in the fourth quarter, when she hit a jumper to trim Buford’s lead to 59-54.
She knocked down another 3 with 1:47 to play as Kell pulled to within 61-57.
With 29 seconds to play, Henderson was fouled shooting a 3-point shot and made all three free throws as Kell trailed 63-60.
Buford made two free throws on the other end, then Henderson connected on yet another 3 with nine seconds to play.
Those would be the final points for her and Kell, as she finished with 26 points on 8-for-16 shooting.
While Buford (31-1) celebrated yet another state title, Kell figures to have a bright future.
In addition to Henderson, the Lady Longhorns will have back most of their top players under coach Tony Ingle Jr., who in his second season lifted them from a 11-15 record to the brink of a state championship.
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