The Carrollton Junior High School boys basketball team battled back from a nine-point first-half hole to claim the West Georgia Middle School Basketball Championship with a 54-43 victory over Central on Thursday evening at Bay Springs Middle School.

The Trojans (12-0), winners of the “big school” title, will now await the winner of the “small school” championship game, which was between Heard County and Jonesville on Thursday night.

The title game will take place on Saturday morning at 11:30 in Heard County.

The Lions’ nine-point advantage slipped away late in the first half, as a last-second 3-pointer by Carrollton’s Dontae Bonner cut the Trojans’ halftime deficit to just one point, something Carrollton coach David Bramble said was a major momentum swing for his ball club.

Carrollton pulled away in the second half to secure the victory, led by Trey Chivers’ 18-point effort. Following Chivers were Wil Garrett (10 points) and Malik Sheppard (8 points).

Elijah Ross (16 points) and Kareem Hill (10 points) led Central offensively.

Bramble said he was proud of his team for sticking together and playing as one unit the entire year.

“We really had some good leadership, especially from Malik Sheppard, our point guard,” Bramble said. “We had just got done beating Central on Saturday by 40 or however many, and (Thursday) was a struggle. We were down nine, and they really had to fight for it. But all season long, they really played like a team. Not just one person. We really came together as a team, especially toward the end.”

Girls championship game:

Central 48, Carrollton 20: The Lady Lions (12-0) were led by Sharae Bonner (18 points) and Wesli Simmons (10 points) offensively, while Hayley Sims (8 points) and Asiana Almon (6 points) also had solid nights. Porche King (7 points) and Melanie Daniel (7 points) led Carrollton.

Central will play the “small school” champion Saturday morning at 10 at Heard County.