LCRD senior boys basketball coach Sylvester Cooper and assistant Tangy Johnson were thrilled when their squad won the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association State Championship, beating Wayne County a month ago.

It was their second championship in a row.

According to Cooper and Johnson, the boys took on Effingham County in round one and won 79-32. De’Andre Durden led the Liberty County Recreation Department seniors with 28 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 steals. Byron Johnson added 6 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, Jarqual Roberts, Johnny Williams and Kewan Daivs, all had 8 points apiece.

The coaches said it was a team effort and encouraged their squad to go for broke.

"Now it’s time to leave everything on the floor," coach Cooper said. "Let’s take this home."

The pep talk prepared the seniors as they faced Wayne County in the championship game in Effingham County.

Wayne County was up by 3 when Johnson grabbed the ball and hit a tri-shot, and sending the game into overtime.

In OT the LCRD squad hit one shot to win 63-61.

"I told you we weren’t going to lose this game," player Byron Johnson told his coaches.

Cooper and coach Johnson said key players were point guards Byron Johnson with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals, De’Andre Durden with 16 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 steals and Jarqual Roberts who chipped in 16 points and 3 steals.

But the coaches stressed the victory was a team effort.