By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          Jamaal Garman had already pretty much celebrated.

          His team had control of the semifinal with Clarke Central most of the time, save for some big-lead sluggishness in the fourth quarter.

          And his Warner Robins team waited for him to get done an interview before they rushed and jumped and bounced off him.

          About 15 minutes after the Demons’ 77-57 win Saturday over Clarke Central at Fort Valley State, Garman was looking ahead.

          “There’s no 24-hour rule on this one,” Garman said. “That’s our mindset.”

          It may have been that way no matter who won the other semifinal, but probably not.

          It’s Miller Grove, one of the state’s elite programs, one that took six straight state championships not long ago.

          Until Warner Robins knocked off the Wolverines in the 2015 quarterfinals. A year earlier, Miller Grove humbled Warner Robins 70-43 in the state championship at the Coliseum.

          “We’re 1-1,” Garman said. “But they’re 1-0 in the big one.”

          So both teams are looking at some revenge in Thursday night's Class 5A state title game.

          Warner Robins is 27-3 and Miller Grove 23-7. The Demons are on a 13-game winning streak and the Wolverines are in the finals after losing in the Region 5 tournament to Southwest DeKalb.

          The Demons are looking to make history against an historical program that has seven state titles in the past nine years.

          But Garman cautions against forgetting what’s actually going on.

          “Our priority is to understand that yes, this is a state championship game,” said Garman, a Demons grad. “But it’s still a basketball game. … (don’t) let the moment eat you alive.”

          Warner Robins is a little more offense oriented, but is long and athletic on defense. Miller Grove is a little more defense oriented, but ready for any style.

          Nelson Phillips had 14 points in the second quarter of the semifinal win en route to 32 points.

          Miller Grove’s Maurice Harvey went for 30 against Buford in the second round, and his 11 led all scorers in the 54-41 semifinal win over Hiram.

          The Wolverines have a height advantage, and the guards are aggressive. The Demons have a depth edge and perhaps more balance, and the guards are aggressive.

          And players other than the headliners can have a bigger impact than the headliners.

          “I would say we’re pretty similar right now,” Garman said. “Both teams have athletes, and play hard. I’d say we’re evenly matched teams.”

          On the court and against each other. One of those will change.