North Oconee boys basketball wins first-ever GHSA title, makes Athens-area history

MACON − North Oconee boys basketball has won the 2024 Class AAAA state championship.

The Titans defeated Holy Innocents Episcopal 65-60 to secure their first-ever title, and the first for Athens GHSA programs since 1988 − Monsignor Donovan won the GIAA title, becoming the first overall Athens team last Friday.

"It's incredible, almost surreal," coach Rick Rasmussen said after he finished hoisting the trophy above his head. "I'm just so proud of our kids because they made plays when we had to and they persevered, which they've done all year. Honestly, I'm not surprised. We had some doubters, but we never doubted our kids. We never doubted our team, and they just proved everyone who did doubt wrong."

History in the making: North Oconee boys first Titan basketball program to make a GHSA state championship game

The chemistry on the court was the driving factor, and what led them to the title on a 19-game win streak. The team flowed as one, a smoothness of which most coaches dream.

"It was the little things alone the way that built their confidence," Rasmussen said. "I feel like we do a good job of helping players play to their strengths so they get on court chemistry, they know what works. This team, with the veteran senior guards, was talking about what to run next, and I was agreeing with them. ... They can manage the game a lot themselves, and they make my job easier. ... It makes sense that they would win a state championship."

Sophomore forward Khamari Brook, freshman Justin Wise and senior guard Byrd Carter lifted the Titans to glory on the offensive front with a combined 53 points.

Brooks went into halftime on near-perfect shooting from the field before getting subbed in the third quarter due to foul trouble.

"I don't know how to feel," Carter said, breathless and beaming. "Going into this game, we knew it was winnable and we knew if we just attacked them, we'd be fine. I mean, I can't even begin to explain the feeling, to be honest."

Senior center Evan Montgomery kept things clean in the box, even 6-foot-8 five-star recruit Caleb Wilson, a junior, breathing down his neck − they looked at Wilson as a challenge, not an obstacle or something to be scared of, Rasmussen said. Senior guard Justin "JP" Payne found his teammates at every golden opportunity to keep the Titans rolling net-deep.

Montgomery had nine rebounds and Payne had eight assists.

"It just feels amazing," Montgomery said. "It's a perfect way to go out as a senior. We fought and we fought, won the first region championship this year, now first state championship. It's just a heck of a way to go out as a senior."

Montgomery, Carter and Payne all have collegiate offers, though have not committed to any schools just yet.

In the second quarter, Carter managed to snatch the ball from Wilson, lob it up-court to Payne, who flicked it over the head of Golden Bear defenders to get Montgomery on the rim for a dunk to bring the board within one.

'Raz'zle Dazzle: How North Oconee boys basketball changed its fate in five seasons

It was Payne's trips to the free throw line at the end of the game that sealed the deal.

"JP made his free throws like he's done all year, and Evan had a couple of really big plays, rebounds. And Khamari, he played great defense on their great player," Rasmussen said. "Byrd stepped up, Justin Wise got hot and showed he's one of the best freshmen in the state, and it was just incredible."

The Titan boys end their season undefeated in 2024 − 30-3 overall and ranked 12th in the state − and with two titles under their belt between region and state. A run of history stamped in Athens' books.

Sara Tidwell covers Athens-area high school sports and University of Georgia athletics for The Athens Banner-Herald. Contact her at stidwell@gannett.com and follow her @saramtidwell on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: North Oconee boys basketball makes history, wins first-ever GHSA title