MACON, Ga. (WALB) — Clinch County defeated Portal in the boys state basketball championship Thursday afternoon at the Macon Coliseum, ending a 37-year title drought — even as news of a student’s passing cast a shadow over the celebration.

Panthers dominate second half

Clinch County outscored Portal 35-19 in the second half to pull away for the win. The trophy returns to Homerville for the first time since 1989 — the program’s first boys state title in 37 years.

Sophomore Travian Miller led all Panthers scorers and rebounders, going 8-for-15 from the field for 25 points. He closed the game with a slam dunk, as he did in the semifinals. JaKyri Posley finished with 15 points, including a key jumper from the top of the circle and a drive to the basket in the first half. Kaiis Mingo contributed on the boards with a put-back in the second quarter. Fred Causey was physical in the paint in the second half.

Clinch County took a four-point lead into halftime and dominated the paint in the second half. Head coach Terrence George, a former Final Four player, has been at Clinch County for 21 years. The Panthers carried just one senior on the roster.

“It’s been a long time coming for us,” George said. “It’s been a long time coming for myself. I’ve been at Clinch for 21 years now. Just working and grinding each day. Trying to be a successful basketball coach. And the day it happened, you know. The day it happened.”

“All the time, like when we were little leagues. So every summer just playing AAU getting better and better,” junior Kamarion Johnson said. “We knew we was good. We just had to put in the work and broadcast show everybody that we was really like that.”

Celebration shadowed by loss

The championship celebration came with heavy hearts. News of the passing of Jonah Pittman, known as JP, broke during Thursday afternoon’s game. Students, supporters, and administrators were seen crying at the Coliseum. Pittman was described as a staple of the student section. CCHS posted on social media following the loss.

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