March 9, 2008 - Statesboro, Ga -- The Atlanta Speedboys put together a great run at the Georgia Men's Open State Championships this weekend. They battled through the field, reaching the Title Game on Sunday where they were matched up with fellow SEBL and College Park Pro Am member and long-time rival, Jonesboro South (Orange Crush). The Speedboys were able to come up with a mammoth team performance, beating Jonesboro 73-60 to take the 2008 State Championship.

Quarter-Finals: Atlanta Speedboys 85 Statesboro 59...
March 7, 2008 - -Statesboro came into the game with a 17-0 record overall on the season. But, that posed no threat to the Speedboys, as they dismantled Stateboro with force. The Speedboys worked out to a 38-26 lead by the half and simply built on that in the second half.

Keith Payne (6'4''-F) led the Speedboys with 17 points, while Brandon Kelley (5'11''-G-84, college: Clayton St.) had 14 points and six assists, Charles Williams (6'10''-C) had 12 points, as did DeCourney McGowan (6'7''-F, college: Albany St.) and Ronald Lewis (6'0''-G).

The Speedboys advanced to the semis to take on Effingham County.

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Final Four: Atlanta Speedboys 60 Effingham County 57...

March 8, 2008 -- Atlanta was behind from the opening tip, trailed 33-25 at the break. The were behind by 11 with only 2:45 left in the game when things started to turn their way. With their backs to the wall, they put the ball in the hands of Charles Williams in the paint, who converted back-to-back and-1's to get to with in Five with 1:59 left. Ronald Lewis got a steal and scored to put the Speedboys down by only three with 1:21 left on the clock. After a foul, Effingham missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity at the freethrow line. Ron Lewis then nailed a trey bomb to knot the score at 57-all.

The Speedboys had never led in the game, but after a Effingham falter on the ensuing possession, Atlanta took the ball out and got the ball to Brandon Kelley who nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer for the win.

The Speedboys advanced to the Title Game, where they discovered they were to be matched up against who else, but Jonesboro South -- their ultimate rivals. Jonesboro had made its way, in typical fashion, through the other side of the bracket to the Championship Game.

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Championship Game: Atlanta Speedboys 73 Jonesboro South 60...

March 9, 2008 -- If any team at the State Open Tournament knew how to play the 3-time Defending Champs, it would be the Atlanta Speedboys. They two teams have matched up countless times over the last several years. The teams split regular season games this season, then faced off in the College Park Finals. South won that game, but Atlanta had other ideas when the 'chips' were down for the State Title.

Jonesboro had the upper hand in the first half, holding a 35-28 lead at the half. In the second half though, the Speedboys turned the tables and dominated, out-rebounding and out-scoring South. Atlanta's defense stepped up and held Jonesboro to only 22 points total in the second half, and only nine in the all-decisive fourth quarter. The Speedboys 45 second half points was too much for Jonesboro to recover from in the end.

DeJuan Clark (6'2''-G-77, college: Tougaloo) and Xavier Morton (6'9''-F/C-80) each had 15 points to lead Jonesboro. For the Speedboys, Brandon Kelley had 16 points and 7 assists, DeCourney McGowan had 10 points and 3 blocks. But, the high-point man for the Speedboys for the game was former Georgia Tech star Martice Moore (6'8''-F), who downed 26 points and pulled 11 boards.

Congratulations to the Atlanta Speedboys and Jonesboro. But, rest assure this will not be the last of the epic battles between these two rivals!