Sunday's Central Georgia News 'n Notes: Mercer women win again; college hoops galore; Georgia Southern fires women's coach

Sunday’s Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media.

The Scoreboard is in The Latest Coverage.

High school coaches should send box scores and/or game information to centralgasports@gmail.com within 30 minutes of completion for expanded coverage. The more info provided, the more info to give people.

Same story, different year: Mercer wins SoCon

          Amanda Thompson had to sweat it out.

          The Mercer senior left the door open for Furman by missing two free throws with 14.4 seconds left, the Bears up by three. Thompson raced back and got a hand on La’Jzae Davidson’s shot from the left wing, but Furman got the rebounds and Davidson got another shot at tying the game, but it went in and out, and Mercer had a 66-63 win Sunday and its second straight Southern Conference women’s basketball championship.

"It was back-and-forth and either team could've won,” Mercer head coach Susie Gardner said afterward. “We just got lucky that the last shot didn't go in.”

          Furman led 52-46 with just under nine minutes left, and Mercer soon rallied.

          Down by five with 6:02 left, Shannon Titus hit a jumper, and then the teams struggled to score until KeKe Calloway’s jumper with 3:55 left pulled Mercer within one.

          Rachel Selph made one of two at the line to tie it, and then Titus made two for a 58-56 lead at the 2:59 mark.

          A four-point lead dropped to one with 48 seconds left, and Selph scored inside for a 66-63 lead with 29 seconds left.

          Furman managed only 34.4-percent shooting, 30.4 from 3-point range, but it got 22 points on 15 offensive rebounds.

          The Bears got six blocks from Dodge County alum Rachel Selph, and four steals from Thompson

          Mary Persons grad KeKe Calloway scored 30 points – the most in a final since 2007 - en route to tournament MVP honors,. Shannon Titus chipped in 12 points and 10 boards. Titus and Thompson made the all-tournament team.

          The Bears have some time to celebrate. The NCAA Tournament selection announcement is on Monday, March 18.

Around/About Georgia

Peach Belt titles go to …

          North Georgia thumped Columbus State 90-72 to win the women’s title, while No. 24 Augusta surprised No. 16 USC Aiken 93-86 in the men’s finale, Rutland grad Ty’lik Evans leading USCA with 26 points.
          North Georgia, Lander, and Columbus State made the NCAA Tournament on the women's side, while the men from Augusta, USC Aiken, UNC Pembroke, and Francis Marion continue on.

Georgia Southern cuts loose head women’s hoops coach after four seasons

SEC, ACC men’s tournaments set

          Georgia opens the SEC men’s basketball tournament against Missouri at 7 on Wednesday in Nashville.

          Georgia Tech has the second game of the ACC Tournament in Charlotte with Notre Dame at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

          ACC women’s info is here. SEC women’s info is here.

And in the Sun Belt …

          Georgia Southern’s men are seeded third and don’t play until Friday, and Georgia State is the top seed and is off until Saturday’s semifinals, all in New Orleans.

          Georgia State’s women are fourth and play TBA on Thursday.

United still having trouble scoring

Expectations high for old Georgia OC at UT