Rockdale headed to finals with win over Fayette County

DULUTH, Ga. -- Rockdale's dream season continues.

Kevin Ware scored 18 points and Darion Clark and Bernard Thompson added 14 each as the Bulldogs defeated Fayette County 66-64 in the Class AAAA semifinals Wednesday at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

Rockdale will play against Miller Grove in the program's first state championship game since 1987 at 4:45 p.m. Friday.

"Feels good. It's what we've worked for all year," Clark said. "I knew we'd pull it through."

"We want the 'W,' we ain't stopping until we get that state championship ring," Ware said.

Rockdale (26-5) watched a 19-point second-half lead evaporate to just a 60-58 cushion with 1:34 to play in the game. But Bernard Thompson had consecutive field goals, the last of which was a circus layup that put the Bulldogs ahead 64-59.

"Bernard, he's known for that. Coming up in big-time situations," Ware said.

Rockdale built its largest lead at 44-25 when Thompson fed Clark for a dunk with 6:15 left in the third. Adam Smith tried to keep the Tigers close, hitting a runner and a long 3-pointer to make it 44-30.

Thompson picked up his third foul with 4:01 left and Ware picked up his third and fourth fouls, a minute apart. But the Bulldogs reserves stepped up.

Derek Ferrell hit a 3-pointer in the corner to make it 51-36 and Charles Moore added a bucket to put the Bulldogs up 56-42 through three quarters.

Fayette County (29-3) scored the first nine points of the fourth to trim the deficit to 56-51 on Smith's 3-pointer. Clark and Ware each hit one of two free throws and Deshaun Sunderhous' field goal helped build the lead back up to 60-51. Fayette County didn't quit, getting a Larry Erves steal and field goal and a 3-pointer by Maurice Williams to make it a four-point game with 3:08 left.

"I knew that team was going to make a run. I started praying," Rockdale coach Alvin Williams said. "(Fayette County is) a very good team, that's one of the best teams in the state."

After Eric Lauderdale hit a field goal, Fayette County took a 7-5 lead and was up for much of the first quarter. Clark picked up two fouls within the first three and a half minutes of the game, but Rockdale stayed close without him on the court. Neville Hewitt replaced Clark in the lineup and helped out with an offensive rebound and two late free throws that cut Fayette's lead to 16-15 after a quarter.

It was all Rockdale in the second. Clark made his presence felt early, scoring five points to help the Bulldogs regain the lead at 24-21.

The Rockdale defense stepped up as well, getting a steal and a dunk from both Thompson and Ware to go up 28-21 and force Fayette coach Andre Flynn to use a timeout. Ware had another steal and assist to Thompson on another dunk and Hewitt's bucket made it a 34-24 game late in the second quarter.

Smith scored 16 points to lead the Tigers, but the UNC-Wilmington signee, who scorched Rockdale for 33 points in a December victory, was held 10 points below his season average.

For Rockdale, which is looking to avenge a season-opening 79-57 loss to Miller Grove in Friday's final, Sunderhous added eight points and 13 rebounds.

"That has helped us tremendously," Williams said of the November loss to Miller Grove. "Thank you Miller Grove for playing us early."


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