Most numbers weren't in Hebron's favor, but the final score puts the Lions back in the state championship

By David Friedlander | Photo by Ed Turlington

BUFORD, Ga. — From a simple look at the numbers in Saturday's Class A Private semifinal, it should've been difficult for Hebron Christian to overcome them to defeat Galloway.

The Lions committed 11 turnovers, many of which thwarted opportunities at critical times.

They were out-rebounded 41-32, including numerous offensive rebounds that gave the Scots second- and sometimes third-chance points. 

And they shot only eight free throws, making only four of them.

Yet somehow, Hebron had the last shot in a tie game with time winding down.

After a chaotic sequence, a loose ball wound up in the hands of sophomore Nickyia Daniel, who collected the last of her 17 points on a jumper in the lane with two seconds left, lifting the Lions to a 49-47 victory over Galloway at Buford City Arena.

Daniel's shot completed a balanced effort that helped Hebron (26-5) pull off the improbable win.

Jessie Parish (9 points, 7 rebounds, 7 blocked shots, 3 assists) and Aubrey Beckham (10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals) also made big contributions as the defending state champion Lions (25-5) earned a shot at a second straight title against Mount Paran on Saturday in Macon.

It was the Lions' third win over Galloway (18-10) this season, which were decided by a combined 12 points.

“I'm still trying to figure out how we beat St. Francis (in Thursday's quarterfinal),” Hebron coach Jan Azar said. “What's the name you call a team that's not supposed to win? I don't even know. I just felt like we played some good basketball in the first half. The second half was not as pretty basketball-wise, but we had to fight for it.

“We definitely had hoped we'd gotten to the line a little bit more, but we don't seem to do that. So our kids fought through the physicality and scored when we had to.”

Finding a way to come through when they need it most is something the Lions have become accustomed to this season.

With 6-foot-2 senior post Parish the only returning starter from last season's championship team — with senior Malia Melton and sophomore Amiya Porter the only other players available who saw appreciable playing time for that team — the whole 2021-22 campaign has been something of a learning experience.

But judging from the results, the Lions seem to have learned quite a bit and taken those lessons to heart.

"I was just proud of how hard we fought (Saturday),” Azar said. “This young team and what we're doing right now is just huge. … We love these kids, and it's all the way through (the program). These kids were sitting on our bench last year watching the (experienced) players and going up against them in practice. Aubrey is a new freshman, but (she and the other young players) watched and they learned and they took it all in, and they wanted to be back (in the title game) again.

“Jessie is really the only one who played a ton for us last year, but it's part of building the tradition we want to build, where when a group of (seniors) leave, we miss them and we love them, but we don't (fall apart).”

Parish was also a major key in helping Hebron overcome several deficits Saturday thanks to a strong effort from the Scots, in particular posts Jasmine Baxter (12 points, 7 rebounds) and Kyla Cain (13 points, 9 rebounds) and guard Kailyn Fields (4 points, 8 assists).

The Wofford commit's most important plays came during a key sequence with Galloway (18-10) leading 47-44 with 1:11 remaining.

She hit a 3-pointer from left of the key with a minute to play, then blocked a shot on the other end that deflected off a Galloway player and out of bounds to give the Lions possession with 30.5 seconds left.

“My shot wasn't falling early in the game,” Parish said. “But I had to just trust myself, and I looked over at Coach Azar and she gave me the green light (to shoot).”

Parish's block set up the last frenetic sequence after two timeouts, the second with 11.4 seconds left.

Under heavy pressure, Hebron beat the five-second count to get the ball into the backcourt to Beckham, who brought the ball up and saw a lane to the basket through the paint.

But as she began her leap to the basket, she was met by a Galloway defender, who deflected the ball away.

The loose ball bounced into the middle of the lane right into the hands of an unsuspecting Daniel, who matter-of-factly put the 8-foot jumper through cleanly with the clock at 0:02 to put the Lions back in front 49-47.

Galloway's last-second halfcourt heave didn't fall, sending Hebron back to the title game.

While it will be the first trip to the finals for many of the players, it will be old hat for Azar, who guided Wesleyan to 18 championship game appearances in 19 years between 2001 and 2019, including 13 titles, before coming to Hebron in 2020.

And with the game being played in Macon, it holds a personal connection for her.

“My mom passed away (last) September and she never missed a state championship,” Azar said. “I'm always remembering her because she loved these girls and this basketball program."