How it Happened
With 5:03 remaining in the game, Savannah High School Blue Jackets trailed 47-35 against McIntosh County Academy in the GHSA Class A-DII Boys Championship. But in a swarming finish, the Blue Jackets stung MCA for 23 points to the Buccaneers 5 down the stretch, pulling off a stunning comeback to claim the state title.
Fueled by their trademark relentless defense and clutch shooting, Savannah High flipped the game's momentum in those final minutes. They regained the lead for the first time since the 7:01 mark in the second quarter. With the clock ticking down to 1:16, senior Chance Hendricks buried a crucial three-point shot, giving the Blue Jackets a 52-51 lead that they would not relinquish. The moment held fans in awe and showcased the incredible resilience, determination, and adversity the team met throughout the game and season as Coach George Brown emphasized to GPB sideline host Jon Nelson the importance of never giving up.
"This is for y'all, but listen guys. More importantly than all that. All right? More importantly, all that. Shout out to the Savannah High Varsity Boys basketball team for everything they overcame to be champions now," stressed Brown. "I'm extremely extremely extremely indebted and proud of these boys when people said they couldn't do it. When people threw their name in the mud, we overcame, we conquered, even here adversity hit and we weathered the storm and did what we need you in order to be champions. Now, this means that these kids can do whatever they want in life. It's bigger than just this basketball game. They can do whatever they want in life because they've been throwing punches, they've been thrown through the mud, and now, look at them as their champions. So when y'all talk about Savannah High, when you got all the bad narritives to say about Savannah High, put champions beside that too!"
Chance Hendricks led the charge, delivering a standout performance with 17 points and eight rebounds, earning MVP honors. The win marks Savannah's 13th state championship and its first since 1998. The Blue Jackets (27-4) benefited from senior Maki Joyner's 14 points and six rebounds. In comparison, senior Stephon Fox contributed eight points and seven boards off the bench to help seal the historic 13th championship victory in the High's basketball program.
The championship win cements their place in Georgia high school basketball history. What a way to bring home the "SHIP" to the C-PORT!
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Savannah High Blue Jackets 2024-25 State Championship Roster Head Coach: George Brown Assistant Coaches: Charlie Brown, Darnell Jackson |
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| No. | Name | Position | Grade |
| 1 | Ramon Anderson | G | 12 |
| 2 | Maki Joyner | G | 12 |
| 3 | Chance Hendricks | G | 12 |
| 4 | Jeremontae Brown | G | 12 |
| 5 | Shane Ruth | G | 9 |
| 10 | Stephen Fox | G | 10 |
| 12 | Deshawn Davis | F/C | 12 |
| 17 | Zy Smart | G | 12 |
| 24 | Ahmad Hall | G | 9 |
| 19 | Caden Wright | G | 11 |
| 20 | Demari Neal | F | 9 |
| 22 | Laquadre Haynes | G | 12 |
| 24 | Martavies Rice | G/F | 11 |
| 33 | Marcus Reynolds | C | 11 |
| 55 | Renard Jackson | C | 9 |
SAVANNAH HIGH SCHOOL 58, MCINTOSH CO. ACADEMY 52
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | ||
| MCINTOSH CO. ACADEMY | 9 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 52 | |
| SAVANNAH HIGH SCHOOL | 9 | 6 | 17 | 26 | 58 | |
| Savannah High (58) | ||||||
| Maki Joyner 14, Chance Hendricks 17, Jermontae Brown 7, Shone Ruth 1, Deshawn Davis 2, Stephon Fox 8, Zy Smart 7, Laquadre Haynes 2. | ||||||
| MCA (52) | ||||||
| Craig Battle Jr. 10, Neo West 7, Jayden Ellis 11, MJ Quarterman 11, Derrick Irons 2, Jalen Drake 5, Fortune Hicks 6. | ||||||
| Records - McIntosh Co. Academy 26-6, Savannah High 27-4. | ||||||
NOTE: Box Score via Dennis Knight Savannah Morning
PHOTO CREDITS: Courtesy GHSA Social media pages
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